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Home , Adrien Broner, Alfredo Angulo, Andreas Kotelnik, Antonio DeMarco, Arturo Gatti, Barry Tompkins

BEST I FACED: MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA P.20 THE BIBLE OF BOXING

★ FIRST MIGHTY LOSSES SOME BOXERS REBOUND FROM MARCOS THEIR INITIAL MAIDANA GAINS SETBACKS, SOME DON’T NEW RESPECT P.48 P.38

CANELO HALL OF VS. ANGULO FAME: JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT RICHARD STEELE WAS MATCHUP HAS FAN APPEAL ONE OF THE BEST P.64 REFEREES OF HIS ERA P.68 JOSE SULAIMAN: 1931-2014 ARMY, NAV Y, THE LONGTIME AIR FORCE WBC PRESIDENT COLLEGIATE BOXING

APRIL 2014 WAS CONTROVERSIAL IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE BUT IMPACTFUL SERVICE ACADEMIES $8.95 P.60 P.80

44 CONTENTS | APRIL 2014

Adrien Broner FEATURES learned a lot in his loss to Marcos Maidana 38 DEFINING 64 ALVAREZ about how he’s FIGHT VS. ANGULO perceived. MARCOS MAIDANA THE JUNIOR REACHED NEW MIDDLEWEIGHT HEIGHTS BY MATCHUP HAS FAN BEATING ADRIEN APPEAL BRONER By Doug Fischer By Bart Barry 67 PACQUIAO 44 HAPPY FANS VS. BRADLEY II WHY WERE SO THERE ARE MANY MANY PEOPLE QUESTIONS GOING PLEASED ABOUT INTO THE REMATCH BRONER’S By Michael MISFORTUNE? Rosenthal By Tim Smith 68 HALL OF 48 MAKE OR FAME BREAK? REFEREE RICHARD SOME FIGHTERS STEELE EARNED BOUNCE BACK HIS INDUCTION FROM THEIR FIRST INTO THE IBHOF LOSSES, SOME By Ron Borges DON’T By Norm 74 IN TYSON’S Frauenheim WORDS MIKE TYSON’S 54 ACCIDENTAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY CONTENDER IS FLAWED BUT CHRIS ARREOLA WORTH THE READ WILL FIGHT By Thomas Hauser FOR A TITLE IN SPITE OF HIS 80 AMERICA’S INCONSISTENCY TEAMS By Keith Idec INTERCOLLEGIATE BOXING STILL 60 JOSE THRIVES IN SULAIMAN: THE SERVICE 1931-2014 ACADEMIES THE By Bernard CONTROVERSIAL Fernandez WBC PRESIDENT LEFT HIS MARK ON 86 DOUGIE’S THE SPORT MAILBAG By Thomas Hauser NEW FEATURE: THE BEST OF DOUG FISCHER’S RINGTV.COM COLUMN

COVER PHOTO BY HOGAN PHOTOS; BRONER: JEFF BOTTARI/GOLDEN BOY/GETTY IMAGES BOY/GETTY JEFF BOTTARI/GOLDEN BRONER: BY HOGAN PHOTOS; PHOTO COVER By Doug Fischer

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 3 DEPARTMENTS 30 5 RINGSIDE

6 OPENING SHOTS Light heavyweight 12 COME OUT WRITING contender Jean Pascal had a good night on 15 ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES Jan. 18 in Montreal. Jabs and Straight Writes by Thomas Hauser 20 BEST I FACED: MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA By Anson Wainwright 23 RING CARD GIRL 26 READY TO GRUMBLE By David Greisman 29 OUTSIDE THE ROPES By Brian Harty 30 RING RATINGS PACKAGE 92 LETTERS FROM EUROPE By Gareth A Davies 96 SWEET SCIENCE By Scott LaFee 98 NEW FACES: JULIAN WILLIAMS By Mike Coppinger 100 WOMEN’S BOXING By Thomas Gerbasi 102 RINGSIDE REPORTS By Norm Frauenheim 106 WORLDWIDE RESULTS 108 COMING UP 112 FROM THE ARCHIVE 114 AT THE FIGHTS

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4 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 RINGSIDE

By Michael Rosenthal

generating drama, the lifeblood of VOLUME 93, NO. 4 | APRIL 2014 the boxing business. Consider his fght against Victor Ortiz in 2009, which launched FOUNDER him into international prominence. Nathaniel Fleischer (1888-1972) Maidana went down three times but put Ortiz down twice and EDITOR Michael Rosenthal made him quit. High drama. Consider his fght against Amir ASSOCIATE EDITOR Douglass Fischer Khan in 2010. Khan, the much quicker and skillful of the two, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR was dominating when Maidana Brian Harty hurt him badly with a right and ART DIRECTOR followed with a ferce barrage in Lamar Clark the 10th round. Khan survived RING CARD GIRLS COORDINATOR WHY WE and won, but Maidana provided Heather Shanholtz the thrills. CONTROLLER LOVE And, finally, consider his fight Deborah L. Harrison against rising star Adrien Broner CIRCULATION DIRECTOR in December. Maidana provided Kenneth J. Gudaitis MAIDANA the usual ingredients – passion, ADVERTISING INQUIRIES fearlessness, power. He went a step Robert Gasparri further this time, though. 213-233-2952 [email protected] ne unusual aspect Maidana also entered the ring about boxing with an excellent game plan SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES O SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT is that a fighter and, it turned out, a vulnerable PUBLICATIONS doesn’t have to opponent. The underdog pounced P.O. BOX 433122 be immensely on Broner from the beginning, hurt Palm Coast, FL 32164-3122 1-800-846-6438 talented to be him and never let up, allowing [email protected] universally respected. Arturo Gatti, an overwhelmed Broner little

BACK ISSUES limited in ability but infinitely opportunity to build momentum. 215-643-3087 OR ONLINE AT courageous, comes to mind. The result stunned Broner and the RINGTV.COM So does Marcos Maidana, our boxing world: Maidana by a one- DIGITAL EDITION INQUIRIES cover boy this month. sided decision, 117-109, 115-109 215.541.2770 Everyone knows that Maidana and 115-110. [email protected] isn’t the best boxer in the world, And the impact of that victory SEND EDITORIAL COMMENTS TO: including Maidana. Of course, he didn’t end there. Maidana [email protected] or P.O. BOX 251753, has solid skills or he wouldn’t be an pummeled an anti-hero, a brash, Los Angeles CA, 90025 elite fghter, but he reminds no one often crude upstart whose boasting of Floyd Mayweather Jr. outpaced his accomplishments. And THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410), Vol. 93, NO. 3 (APRIL 2014), is published monthly by Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, Maidana makes his living when you beat down an anti-hero, PO Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY 11209 and additional post offces. Postmasters: primarily as a warrior, one you’re a hero, which is exactly Send change of address notices to: THE RING, P.O. Box 433122, Palm Coast, FL 32164-3122. Single copy price $8.95 in U.S. and who fights exclusively in attack what Maidana was that night to Canada (£4.95 in the UK). Subscription price $58.70 in the U.S., $127.10 in Canada and Mexico, $143.70 in remaining countries. mode, would willingly die before many people. Not responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited articles or photographs, which will not be returned unless accompanied by a giving up and has the kind of Maidana provides drama in self-addressed envelope bearing the proper amount of postage. The entire contents of this magazine are copyright ©2013 Sports two-fisted punching power that one fight after another, beats up and Entertainment Publications, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. discombobulates opponents and braggarts when the opportunity All rights reserved. Publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of advertisements appearing in this magazine, nor makes fans drool. presents itself and doesn’t do much the delivery or quality of merchandise or services offered. No endorsement of any such advertisement is intended or implied. The soft-spoken Argentine talking himself. He just fights … Advertisers and agencies assume liability for claims arising from the content of their advertisements. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRES doesn’t always win, which really hard … every time he steps into AND RATES: (213) 233-2952. U.S. and Canadian distribution by Kable Distribution Services Inc., 14 Wall Street, Suite 4C, New York, isn’t relevant to how he’s perceived. the ring. NY 10022. International distribution by Worldwide Media Service Inc., 115 East 23rd St., New York, NY 10010, UK distribution by The point here is that fans feed It’s no wonder fans are in love Comag Tavistock Rd., West Drayton, Middlesex UB77QE, England. Printed in U.S.A. off his energy and his knack for with the guy. PASCAL: HERBY WHYNE; MAIDANA: HOGAN PHOTOS WHYNE; MAIDANA: HERBY PASCAL:

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 5 NAOKI FUKUDA Naoki FukudaFUKUDA NAOKI 3.14 /

RINGTV.COM RINGTV.COM

junior lightweight title on Dec.junior lightweight It was Uchiyama’s 31 in Tokyo. defense. eighth successful Takashi Uchiyama (right) Takashi in a wildsurvived a knockdown outpoint Daiki to 10th round his WBA retain Kaneko and

6 OPENING SHOTS OPENING 4.14 / RINGTV.COM 7 8 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 Floyd Mayweather Jr. was well received at the Dube Boxing Gym in Soweto. The world’s No. 1 fghter traveled halfway around the world to help revitalize the sport in South Africa. 10 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 Vitali Klitschko was sprayed with a fre extinguisher during a demonstration in Ukraine that turned violent. Klitschko, a presidential candidate, is fghting to reform a corrupt government. EFREM LUKATSKY -AP EFREM LUKATSKY COME OUT WRITING

combinations and then grabs, holds, then pushes down on his opponent. These are fouls in boxing, but he gets away with it constantly. Why his opponents’ cornermen don’t get on the referee and the governing body or commission is beyond me. Can you imagine Klitschko doing that to one of Lou Duva’s boxers? Duva would punch the referee. Klitschko is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. He has proven that with his continued dominance and longevity as champion. He’s also the most boring to watch. If he had his brother Vitali’s fghting spirit to go along with his intelligence and athleticism … now that would be a heavyweight GIVE BRADLEY he might have won that bout because worth watching. CREDIT he was able to maul Mayweather.” Danny Kisner Tim Bradley is about to fght Manny Then I watched Miguel Cotto do Glen Burnie, Md. Pacquiao again in April. That means reasonably well against Floyd, and his last four fghts were Pacman, I thought, “If he was a little more FOND MEMORIES Ruslan Provodnikov, Juan Manual persistent and a little younger, he The recent death of former world Marquez, and Pacman again. That is might’ve beaten Floyd, too.” Enter heavyweight champion Ken Norton an amazing schedule of fghters. This Ruslan Provodnikov, today’s version brought back some fond memories for dude has balls. When was the last time of Rocky Marciano, a man with all of me. In 1975, Norton was training at in boxing a fghter fought a murderers those missing tools. This guy would the 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach row like this before? I can’t think of a be a nightmare for Floyd because he’s for a match with Rico Brooks. Brooks single fghter who has. not going to try to counterpunch with was a fast fghter, and Norton was Dominick Carrero Mayweather. He’s going for the throat looking for sparring partners with Saratoga Springs, N.Y. from Round 1. He’s young, relentless, a similar style of fghting. I was a strong, rips the body, hits hard, has a 17-year-old amateur boxer at the ONE VOTE FOR granite chin and has an unbelievable time, and Norton used me as one of HOPKINS desire to win. Floyd would get hit and his sparring partners. Ken was always Floyd Maywweather Jr. is a great hit often, harder and harder round by friendly and kind; a true gentleman fghter – no question. But I feel the round, something Floyd’s not used to and a credit to the sport of boxing. best fghter of this era is Bernard – a real fght, not a counterpunching Our sparring matches must have paid Hopkins. One must look at all he match. This is the guy who would off. Norton knocked out Brooks in has done as a middleweight and light beat Floyd, but I guarantee you one round, and I went on to score heavyweight, and at what age he did Floyd’s not going to fght him. frst-round knockouts over Tyrone it. There is a resemblance to Archie Robert Casazza McClary and Aldric Brown. Moore here. Money is not the only Staten Island, N.Y. Sherman “Big Train” Bergman measure of greatness. Miami Beach, Fla. Stephen Gardella IMPRESSED AND Brockton, Mass. BORED WRITE TO After recently watching the Wladimir THE RING! THE GUY WHO Klitschko vs. Alexander Povetkin Come Out Writing, The Ring, P.O. CAN BEAT title fght, I was impressed and bored Box 251753, Los Angeles, CA 90025 • MAYWEATHER? at the same time. No one in the [email protected] I recently re-watched the Floyd heavyweight division (or any division) Emailed letters will include a writer’s email ETHAN MILLER Mayweather Jr.-Ricky Hatton fght uses Klitschko’s style of fghting better address unless a city and state of origin is and thought to myself, “If Ricky had than he does. He jabs constantly, provided. Letters may be edited for reasons a little more power and a better chin, throws occasional powerful of space and clarity.

12 RINGTV.COM / 4.14

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF A SERIOUS SPORT

JABS & STRAIGHT WRITES BY THOMAS HAUSER STEWARD BEING STEWARD THE LATE TRAINER WAS IN TYPICAL FORM WHEN HE COMFORTED A RIVAL

I was going through some notes on my computer recently and found a story that I think is worth sharing. On June 5, 2010, Yuri Foreman fought Miguel Cotto at Yankee Stadium. Foreman injured his knee in Round 7. The state athletic commission inspector assigned to Foreman’s corner advised the referee that Yuri’s trainer, Joe Grier, wanted to stop the fght. Defying logic and a hundred years of ring precedent, the referee insisted that the fght go on.

The late Emanuel Steward showed his colors after the Miguel Cotto-

THE RING MAGAZINE Yuri Foreman fght in 2010. 4.14 / RINGTV.COM 15 ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES

A severely compromised Foreman Foreman as a f ghter and the was TKO’d in Round 9. way he had handled himself on MANDELA In the aftermath of the f ght, f ght night. BEAT TO THE Grier was upset. He felt that “Emanuel was so nice,” Grier he’d somehow failed his f ghter. said afterward. “I never thought PUNCH Then, f ve days after the bout, he I’d hear from him. I thought it received a telephone call from would be like, he’s a big trainer, Cotto’s trainer, Emanuel Steward. his guy won, and he’d go on his Steward imparted some choice way without ever looking back. words regarding the referee’s The fact that he took the time to handling of the contest. He also call and the things he said made told Grier that he admired the me feel so good.” job he had done in developing That was Emanuel Steward. ★

The death of Nelson Mandela on Dec. 5 engendered a global outpouring of remembrance and love. Mandela was a worldwide symbol of dignity, perseverance, and equality for all. People from all walks of life looked upon him as one of their own. That’s true of the boxing community as well. Mandela boxed as an amateur and was a devotee of the sweet science throughout his life. Over the years, he met with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Lennox Lewis, Ray Leonard, The Cotto-Foreman f ght gave Steward the opportunity to reach out to a Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson and fellow trainer. Evander Holyf eld, among others. That leads to a whimsical memory. Mandela sometimes gave ★ visitors a T-shirt bearing the prison The World Boxing Council has just number he wore during his 27 published a book entitled Ring Off cial’s Basic years of incarceration: 46664. Guidelines. Highlights include the When Don King met Mandela, he gave “Madiba” a similar following advice for referees: “Don’t look gift: a T-shirt emblazoned with at the ring girls” and “don’t forget to “125734,” the number that Don take an Imodium [anti-diarrhea medicine].” ★ wore for four years at the Marion Correctional Institute in Ohio. ★ COTTO/FOREMAN: AL BELLO; MANDELA: WALTER DHLADHLA; KING/SULLIVAN: THE RING MAGAZINE DHLADHLA; KING/SULLIVAN: WALTER AL BELLO; MANDELA: COTTO/FOREMAN:

16 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 QUICK QUIZ 1. THE FIRST BOXING FILM EVER MADE WAS A SPARRING SESSION BETWEEN MIKE LEONARD AND JACK CUSHING FILMED BY THOMAS EDISON. TWO MONTHS LATER, ON SEPT. 7, 1894, EDISON SOUGHT TO MONETIZE HIS NEWLY INVENTED MOVING PICTURE CAMERA BY PAYING A WELL- KNOWN FIGHTER TO COME TO HIS STUDIO AND BOX AN EXHIBITION AGAINST AN UNKNOWN PUGILIST NAMED PETER COURTNEY THAT WOULD BE SHOWN IN PEEPSHOWS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WHO NOT GOOD WAS THE WELL KNOWN FIGHTER? IN THE END Who was the well known f ghter on the left? attended a screening of Grudge Match with a group of high school students. At the end of the If lm, one of the students said to a friend, “Man, that was good until the end, which was stupid.” My sentiments exactly. I’m hard-pressed to think of an actor who owes more to a single role than Sylvester Stallone owes to Rocky. For Robert DeNiro, his role as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull is one in a long line of celebrated performances. The two actors teamed up to tell the story of Henry Sharp (Stallone) and Billy McDonnen (DeNiro), ex-f ghters in their 60s who split two bouts 30 years earlier and are forced by circumstances into a rubber match. Grudge Match doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s funny with poignancy and surprising drama. The screenplay and performances are good enough that it’s easy to suspend disbelief. There’s suspense as 2. WHAT WAS THE FIRST WORLD to who will win the climactic bout. CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT TO BE TRANSMITTED Then the fight starts, and the film devolves LIVE ON RADIO? into silliness. On a snowy Saturday in December, Stallone and DeNiro were at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manhattan 3. JOE LOUIS SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED to talk about Grudge Match. For 40 minutes, they HIS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP and cast members Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin and Kim 25 TIMES, BUT AGAINST ONLY 20 Basinger answered questions from the media. CHALLENGERS. WHO DID HE DEFEND DeNiro had the look of a man who’s really bored AGAINST TWICE?

at press conferences. Listening to him talk, one Carpentier on July 2, 1921. 2, July on Carpentier

had the feeling that he approached Grudge Match reigning the Sullivan, beaten title defense against Georges Georges against defense title who’d man the of services

was Jack Dempsey’s successful successful Dempsey’s Jack was tongue-in-cheek while Stallone approached it as the retained Edison So offer.

Walcott. radio on live heard be to ght f

high drama. Both men expressed genuine respect Edison’s declined Sullivan L. John

Godoy, Billy Conn and Jersey Joe Joe Jersey and Conn Billy Godoy, championship world rst f The 2.

for boxing and boxers. champion heavyweight Former 1. Buddy Baer, Abe Simon, Arturo Arturo Simon, Abe Baer, Buddy

his championship twice against against twice championship his Corbett. James world, Asked to comment on the respective merits of ANSWERS:

3. Louis successfully defended defended successfully Louis 3. the of champion heavyweight Rocky and Raging Bull, Stallone spoke effusively QUIZ QUICK about DeNiro’s towering performance as LaMotta. When it was DeNiro’s turn to answer, he said Thomas Hauser can be reached by email at [email protected]. His most simply, “They’re two different styles of f lms.” recent book (Straight Writes and Jabs: An Inside Look at Another Year Kim Basinger looked very pretty. ★ in Boxing) has just been published by the University of Arkansas Press.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 17 ROLLROLL WITHWITH THETHE PUNCHESPUNCHES

A MONTHLY BOXING LIST:

This month: Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced that his last fght will take place in 10 September 2015. That means, if he fghts four more times – May 2014, September 2014, May 2015 and September 2015 – and remains unbeaten, he will fnish his career tied with Rocky Marciano atop the list of fghters who retired with perfect records. This would be the list (ranked by number of victories).

1T. 49-0 Rocky Marciano 49-0 Floyd Mayweather Jr. 3. 46-0 Joe Calzaghe 4. 43-0 Samson Dutch Boy Gym 5. 34-0 Sven Ottke 6. 29-0 Harry Simon 7. 28-0 Michael Loewe 8. 27-0 Edwin Valero 9. 24-0 Scott Daley 10T. 24-0 George Kandelaki Floyd Mayweather Jr. could equal the feat of Rocky Marciano (above) next year. 24-0 Pichit Sithbanprachan

ADVANCED DEGREES

Degrees of separation between fghters of the past and their counterparts today. This month, reader Conan O’Brien (yes, that’s his name and, no, he’s not the talk show host) connects “The Greatest” with the greatest active fghter in only seven steps. NAOKI FUKUDA MURATA: SCOTT HEAVEY; AL BELLO; MEKHONTSEV: AFP; MAYWEATHER: ALI/JOSHUA:

« MUHAMMAD ALI fought … GEORGE FOREMAN, who fought … EVANDER HOLYFIELD, who fought … JAMES TONEY who fought … ROY JONES JR., who fought … BERNARD HOPKINS, who fought … OSCAR DE LA HOYA, who fought … FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. »

18 EMAIL YOUR ADVANCED DEGREES TO [email protected]. THE BEST AND WORST IN BOXING FROM THE PAST MONTH WHAT BOXERS ARE INTO OUTSIDE THE SPORT By Michael Rosenthal By Anson Wainwright

ANTHONY JOSHUA Good 2012 Olympic gold medalist, super I didn’t know whether to fle this under good or worse. Former heavyweight titleholder Vitali heavyweight Klitschko, a presidential candidate in his native Ukraine, is MUSIC – “My favorite artist has to be among those seeking to reform a corrupt government. It was in Jay-Z. The reason I say Jay-Z is because that capacity that he recently led a massive protest of new laws he has become bigger than the music prohibiting most peaceful demonstrations, a heavy-handed industry, and I can respect his rise to move by the government to quell dissension as the country’s success, never neglecting his music. The foundation of it all.” fate remains in question. At least two people were killed in H CAR – “I own an Audi A3 Diesel. I would like to own a Jaguar clashes with police. Klitschko didn’t emerge unscathed. Images XS or XF fully loaded in black.” H FOOD – “I like to eat salmon (both still and video) of the giant former heavyweight champ and mash potato with veg.” H TATTOOS – “I have a tattoo on being sprayed with a fre extinguisher as he was speaking to my right shoulder. The map of Africa with ‘Wisdom’ inked above a crowd were shocking, although it wasn’t clear who sprayed the map. Also the Great Britain Olympic lion logo inked in the him. What was abundantly clear is that Klitschko is risking his middle of my back with the numbers ‘14/452’ underneath.” H life for the future of his country. All boxing fans admire anyone ATHLETE OUTSIDE BOXING – “I like Usain Bolt.” H MOVIE – brave enough to step through the ropes to do battle. Klitschko “My favorite movie is The Hurricane.” H VIDEO GAME – “My is going an enormous step further. THE RING wishes one of favorite video game is Fight Night Round 3.” our own Godspeed. EGOR MEKHONTSEV 2012 Olympic gold medalist, light BAD heavyweight Countless fghters have been portrayed as MUSIC – “I like different music: the next great thing only to fall fat when they take on an elite rap, hip-hop, R&B, pop, classical. opponent. Lucian Bute is the latest example. He was a very Singer – Mick Jagger and The Rolling good amateur and won his frst 30 pro fghts, holding the Stones.” H CAR – “Audi A8.” H IBF super middleweight title for more than four years in the FOOD – “Pancakes.” H TATTOOS – “No tattoos.” H ATHLETE process. Then everything changed in an instant. He was hurt OUTSIDE BOXING – “Alexander Karelin [Greco-Roman by Carl Froch in a May 2012 fght, couldn’t recover and has wrestler].” H MOVIE – “The Golden Calf [Zolotoy telyonok].” H never been the same. Bute’s critics weren’t shocked. He was VIDEO GAME – “I never play computer games.” largely untested going into the Froch fght. Obviously he was overrated. And it gets worse. Bute fought skittishly against RYOTA MURATA Jean Pascal in January, as if he was afraid of getting hurt. That would explain why he didn’t let his hands go enough 2012 Olympic gold medalist, to make the fght competitive. He obviously doubts his own middleweight ability. And a fghter who doubts himself has no chance to MUSIC – “I enjoy all music – classic succeed, especially at the highest level of the sport. Bute could pop music and my favorite band, be fnished as an elite fghter, which is a shame. At his best – Superfy.” H CAR – “I own a Lexus against second-tier opponents – he was fun to watch. RX 450.” H FOOD – “I like meat.” H TATTOOS – “None.” H ATHLETE OUTSIDE BOXING – “Ichiro Suzuki.” H MOVIE – “Life is Beautiful.” H VIDEO GAME – WORSE “Final Fantasy XI.” Evander Holyfeld has a right to his opinions on homosexuality, which are based on his THE PERCENTAGES: religious beliefs. He also has the right to express them, as he RING POLL Maidana by KO did recently on Celebrity Big Brother in the U.K. Holyfeld A MONTHLY POLL OF OUR 50.8 said homosexuality “ain’t normal” and then compared it to a disability that can be fxed. The fact is openly gay people RINGTV.COM READERS Maidana by decision 24.4 are here to stay and deserve the same dignity and respect Could Marcos Maidana that those in other segments of society receive. They are who do it again? Our readers Broner by decision they are; they don’t need to be fxed. And to suggest so only think so. We asked: 19.0 feeds the fre of those who would discriminate against them. What would be the result Broner by KO I don’t think that was Holyfeld’s intention; I believe he was of a Marcos Maidana- 4.6 merely expressing his beliefs. Still, he should know better. Adrien Broner rematch? Draw To his credit Holyfeld later apologized for his comments. Here is how you 1.2 Hopefully he grew as a person as a result of the unfortunate Note: incident. responded. 3,366 readers voted

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 19 BEST I FACED

MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA

By Anson Wainwright

hether you’re championship f ghts along the way to ‘I WOULD HIT talking about a establish hall of fame credentials. single era in boxing Barrera, who turned pro at 15, [MORALES] W or Mexico’s entire won the f rst 43 f ghts of his career. CONSTANTLY WITH history of f ghters, That includes a victory over Daniel Marco Antonio Barrera was one Jimenez to win the WBO junior SOLID PUNCHES, of the best. Just as important, he featherweight title in 1995 and eight was a fan favorite because of his successful defenses. AND IT JUST DIDN’T string of entertaining brawls. Then he ran into trouble, losing SEEM LIKE IT The “Baby Faced Assassin” took on his title and consecutive f ghts to the a who’s who of the best f ghters from slick Junior Jones in 1996 and 1997. WOULD AFFECT 112 to 140 pounds in a career that Many believed at that time that the spanned more than 20 years, winning Mexican warrior, who had been HIM AT ALL.’ four world titles and going 21-4 in in a number of taxing battles, was – MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA

20 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 dominated the popular Hamed, who Defnitely. He’s a guy that just waits was unbeaten and favored going into for a counterpunch. He provokes their 2001 fght. you to think you can hit him, and “Defnitely the best fght I had when you get close to hitting him, he and my best victory was against moves so he can position himself to Naseem Hamed,” Barrera told THE counterpunch you. It was extremely RING while speaking of the 2001 diffcult to get hold of the guy. performance that ruined the Prince’s perfect record. BEST CHIN Barrera, now 40, retired in 2011 Morales: I would hit him with a record of 67-7 (44 knockouts) constantly with solid punches, and it but is still very much involved in just didn’t seem like it would affect boxing. He works as an analyst him at all. for TV Azteca, owns a gym in Mexico City and manages several BEST PUNCHER fghters. That includes RING-ranked Manny Pacquiao: Because of junior fyweight Moises Fuentes, the speed of the punch, he’d surprise welterweight Luis Fernando Uribe you with power. and unbeaten junior featherweight Daniel Rosas. FASTEST HANDS THE RING recently caught up Pacquiao: The speed and angles with Barrera, who gave us the best he he would hit you from. And it comes faced in 10 key categories. with a combination of speed, power and angles. BEST OVERALL Erik Morales: Morales is FASTEST FEET defnitely the toughest opponent I Pacquiao: Defnitely his have faced, because it almost seemed movement, the way he moves whenever I hit him it wouldn’t hurt around, he uses every corner of the him. And he’s a guy who would ring. He knows where to take steps Marco Antonio constantly give me pressure, and he to confuse you. He never comes Barrera (left) said Manny hit really, really hard. straight forward, he comes from Pacquiao was different angles. He stands out from the fastest, BEST BOXER the rest, defnitely. hardest Naseem Hamed: It would punching and SMARTEST strongest defnitely be Naseem Hamed, because opponent he he made it extremely diffcult to Hamed: He stands out because ever faced. hit [him]. He would come around he would bring a different approach from different angles, his boxing from the rest. He would play mind approach would be different from the games with me, he would tease me, fnished as an elite fghter. rest, and he stood out from the rest. and when I thought I had him, he They were wrong. Barrera His punching ability from different would back up and move in different reinvented himself as more of a positions and an overall tough guy to ways. It was more him getting in my boxer than a slugger and went on to get a good, solid hit on. head than anything. He would play record some of his most important with me. victories. Of course, that includes BEST JAB two victories in his classic trilogy Morales: Morales had the best STRONGEST with countryman Erik Morales jab. When it would connect, it would Pacquiao: It’s not just the between 2000 and 2004. be really painful. With the jab, you’re strength but the strength combined Barrera also beat the likes of not used to feeling the power, but his with the speed, that’s what makes Naseem Hamed, Johnny Tapia, I would feel. him different from the rest. If Kevin Kelley and Paulie Ayala but you add speed to anything – his lost twice to Manny Pacquiao and BEST DEFENSE movement, his punches – that’s what

JOHN GICHIGI/GETTY IMAGES once to Juan Manuel Marquez. He Juan Manuel Marquez: stands out.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 21

CARD GIRL OF THE MONTH CARD GIRL OF BY HEATHER SHANHOLTZ THE MONTH BY HEATHER SHANHOLTZ

Sidney Sebold Height: 5 feet 10 inches Weight: 135 pounds Measurements: 34-25-36 Stance: Orthodox Favorite Boxer: Manny Pacquiao Hometown: Cleveland Current location: Las Vegas Where you’ve seen her: Swimsuit USA International Model Search f nalist and Miss Ohio contestant. Social Media: www.facbook.com/ sidneysebold and her site is

Dave Alan www.sidneysebold.com

THE RING MAGAZINE3.141.14/ / AUGUST / RINGTV.COM 2013 232323 24 RINGTV.COM / 4.14

Dave Alan DO YOU WANT TO BE A RING CARD GIRL OF THE MONTH? Submit photos and bio to [email protected] READY TO GRUMBLE By David Greisman

CANELO ALVAREZ WON’T PROVE MUCH THE OBVIOUS BY BEATING ALFREDO ANGULO BUT A SUREFIRE ACTION FIGHT WILL CHOICE APPEAL TO FANS ere’s the co- nundrum: You H would be more likely to buy Canelo Alvarez as being a top junior middleweight if he were to beat Erislandy Lara, but you might not buy Alvarez-Lara if it were on pay-per-view. Meanwhile, you’re more likely to purchase a card headlined by Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo, even if Alvarez-Angulo does less to sell you on what Canelo can be. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that Alvarez’s frst fght back since his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. is coming against Angulo — and not titleholder Carlos Molina, who was also supposedly in the running, or Lara, who will seemingly never be in the picture. Lara, like Alvarez, is a top junior middleweight with one loss on his record. But just because Golden Boy Promotions pro- motes both men doesn’t mean they’re being promoted equally. CANELO: AL BELLO; ANGULO: HARRY HOW/GOLDEN BOY Alvarez makes Golden Boy much more money than Lara does. Keeping Alvarez away from Lara is in Golden Boy’s best in- terest, then, even though it’s not in Lara’s. Angulo’s unrelenting pressure and formidable power punching will still make him a threat. But his style also guarantees something important: He’ll be there for Alvarez to hit. That makes for a potentially fun fght, the best possible pairing for Canelo’s for- ay into the pay-per-view kingdom

26 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 (especially given that Miguel Cot- competitive bout). This upcoming But that means Molina and to is apparently opting to chal- match won’t be a pay-per-view Lara are left out, a particularly lenge Sergio Martinez rather than blockbuster, but it will be an at- grating reality for Lara, who con- accept a clash with Alvarez). tempt to have Alvarez’s f ghts be tinues to be treated as the runt It won’t matter too much that seen as events, and to get people of Golden Boy’s litter and whose Angulo is coming off a loss (to in the habit of spending more if partnership with powerful box- Lara, at that, in what was a good, they desire to see him. ing advisor Al Haymon hasn’t helped land him a shot at Canelo. The other reality, though, is that Lara hasn’t helped himself. Golden Boy set him up to fail by pitting him against another counterpuncher, Austin Trout, this past De- cember. Lara walked willingly into the trap, doing what was needed to win but doing little to wow. It wouldn’t at all surprise if Lara were eventually to end up in a rematch with Molina, or perhaps in a bout with Cor- nelius Bundrage, or any other opponent whose style could combine with his to bring something torturous enough to be banned under the Geneva Conventions. As for Canelo, long gone is any The f ght between Canelo Alvarez (left) and fantasy of him being anywhere Alfredo Angulo (above) near the level of Mayweather. is attractive to fans. Lord knows that an Alvarez win over Mayweather would’ve said just as much about what May- weather wasn’t anymore, rather than what Canelo is. What Canelo is, is a junior middleweight whose 42 wins, six successful world title defenses, multimillion-dollar paydays, stellar television ratings and potentially mainstream appeal still haven’t brought us any closer to learning whether he is better

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 27 READY TO GRUMBLE

than the best of the rest of the 154-pound division. His most notable win came against Trout, who also seemed good but was similarly unproven; how you see Trout’s win over Cotto depends on how much or little you think Cotto has left. Beyond that for Alvarez is a precipitous drop: he’s beaten an ancient Shane Mosley, as well as Kermit Cintron, Alfonso Gomez and Ryan Rhodes. That doesn’t mean Alvarez is a fraud — only that we still don’t know whether we should buy what the hype is selling.

Adrien Broner’s nickname is wholly appropriate. He is indeed “The Problem,” except in his most recent fght that applied more to himself than it did to Marcos Maidana. Broner should credit Maidana for having a great strategy and the ability to carry it out. But he must also blame himself. He cannot party, rap, make sex tapes, be flmed performing an indecent act on a stripper, get arrested for allegedly biting a security guard, gain a bunch of weight, lose that weight and then Adrien Broner (left) should focus more on boxing than his diverse outside activities. expect to perform at a level that justifes the size of his ego. It’s not enough to know you’re of distractions and legal troubles, humping his rear end — and how very good if you don’t give stays in incredible shape, training foolish Broner looked when he yourself a good chance at being with intensity beftting his mantra hit the canvas in the second. great. Self-belief is not enough. of “hard work and dedication.” Maidana foored Broner twice Self-discipline also is key. Broner looked slow and that night, took the decision and Broner has insisted that uncertain at times against even humped Broner in return his efforts in the gym make Maidana. He didn’t throw later in the bout. Broner showed up for his youthful excesses enough to keep Maidana off him. plenty of heart while fghting and indiscretions. Yet he Nor could he block or dodge through adversity, but he never hasn’t convinced his idol and enough of Maidana’s punches. was able to fght his way out of it. fgurative “big brother,” Floyd For all of his talent, and for all Now Broner wants a rematch. Mayweather Jr., who has said of the talking and taunting, there For the result to be any different, in interviews that Broner needs was a big difference between he must recognize why the loss to learn “when to turn it on and the way Broner tried to made happened. The only way he’ll win when to turn it off.” Maidana look foolish in the frst is if Maidana beat some sense Mayweather, despite his history round — spinning Maidana and into him.

28 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 OUTSIDE THE ROPES

By Brian Harty

fghters using testosterone and Celebrity Big Brother, Evander dismissive of more effective testing Holyfeld likened being gay to a protocols offered by organizations congenital birth defect that could other than the Commission. be fxed by a doctor (unlike the Still, some pointed to his case of foot-in-mouth disease he accomplishments, including record spontaneously contracted). Needless gate sales for both boxing and MMA to say, a few people were offended. and the introduction of instant replay in Nevada. And many praised his Fernando Vargas was also set to stances on licensing and drugs, enter the world of reality TV on Jan. saying he advocated more stringent 26 with a show called Welcome to Los policies, including out-of-competition Vargas, about a small, impoverished Keith Kizer testing, and better fghter safety. The village in Mexico struggling to obtain Commission itself listed “No Deaths” clean water and ... nah, just kidding. as one of the “accomplishments It’s about Fernando and his “crazy credited to Kizer.” and entertaining life,” according to a A TUMULTUOUS No replacement has yet been found. press release. As for Kizer, who will now work for the MONTH Nevada attorney general’s offce, he Speaking of water, 2012 Olympian said he’s “going back to lawyering.” Jose Ramirez went to Sacramento with a group from central California’s wo men with great infuence The Japan Boxing Commission San Joaquin Valley in January with the T over professional boxing wasn’t as fortunate as its counterpart intent of lobbying for relief from the departed in January. One was in Nevada, as 21-year-old junior drought that has wreaked havoc in the WBC president Jose Sulaiman, who bantamweight Tesshin Okada agriculture-based economy. Ramirez died at 82 of complications related to died on Jan. 6, 17 days after being grew up in the area. a heart condition. An obituary is on knocked out in his professional debut. Page 60. In another interesting bit of “reality,” The other was Keith Kizer, who Retirements were announced by scandal (and promises of litigation) resigned his post after more than former IBF middleweight titleholder ensued after the poster for a seven years as executive director of Darren Barker and female WBA Mexican card with three “Mexico the Nevada State Athletic Commission junior lightweight champ Kina vs. Philippines” bouts featured on Jan. 10. The Commission handles Malpartida. Barker (26-2, 16 KOs), misleading photos for the Filipino the licensing of fghters and offcials, 31, who took the title from Daniel fghters. The three relatively unknown arbitration and regulation in combat Geale before getting knocked out opponents were depicted as Reman sports’ most important city. It also by Felix Sturm in his final fight, Salim (retired), fyweight contender appoints the executive director who, ended his career because of a Milan Melindo and current WBO jr. among other things, is responsible for recurring hip injury. Partida (15-3, 4 fyweight titleholder Donnie Nietes. assigning judges. KOs), 33, won her belt in 2009 and That particular duty got Kizer into successfully defended it five times. Details are sketchy, but current WBO hot water with boxing folks, as he The Peruvian said she was moving European middleweight titleholder appointed the now-infamous C.J. on to other things and just wanted Ante Bilic of Croatia was reportedly Ross to judge both Tim Bradley- to retire on top. arrested for an alleged gang-related Manny Pacquiao and Floyd murder and now could face 12 years Mayweather Jr.-Canelo Alvarez, Mayweather also announced his in prison. resulting in two of the most bizarre retirement ... in a way. He told guests scorecards in recent history. Kizer at an event in South Africa that his And fve days after his loss to Marcos also irked some in the MMA world last pro bout would be in September Maidana, assault charges against for his handling of offcials and had 2015. If only the last four fghts in Adrien Broner were dismissed in ongoing public feuds with UFC his Showtime contract could be as Ohio when his accuser, who claimed president Dana White and popular entertaining as the advisor wars that Broner punched him in the face in referee “Big John” McCarthy. In will now rage behind closed doors. 2012, failed to show up in court. addition, critics accused him of drug Broner had yet to fle similar charges policies that were permissive toward On the British reality-TV show against Maidana.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 29 THROUGH FIGHTS RATINGS PACKAGE OF JAN. 19 FIGHTER OF THE MONTH | RATINGS ANALYSIS | POUND FOR POUND | THE RING RATINGS

FIGHTER OF THE MONTH JEAN PASCAL

By Michael Rosenthal

Jean Pascal (right) found his target more than enough

to outpoint fellow MIKE GREENHILL Canadian Lucian Bute.

30 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 POUND FOR POUND: No change. Jesus Gurrola by second-round Jean Pascal endured a rough TKO at the welterweight level. He HEAVYWEIGHTS: period between late 2010 and 2012. No change. hasn’t fought at 135 for over a year, He drew (controversially) with so was dropped from the ratings. CRUISERWEIGHTS: No change. That paved the way for undefeated and then lost to a 40-something Texan Omar Figueroa to arrive at Bernard Hopkins, who took Pascal’s LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS: Jean Pascal No. 10. RING light heavyweight title. Then (No. 10 last month) took a big he remained out of the ring for leap upward after winning his JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS: Takashi almost 19 months in part because long-awaited clash with fellow Miura (No. 7 last month) stopped of an injury. Canadian Lucian Bute (No. 3 unrated Dante Jardon in nine And two victories over marginal super middleweight last month) by rounds. On the strength of that opponents upon his return didn’t do unanimous decision. The division and other recent victories, he was much for Pascal’s credibility. No, he was shuffed afterward, with Pascal elevated to No. 4. Undefeated rising to No. 3; Nathan Cleverly Cuban Rances Barthelemy (unrated had to beat Lucian Bute on Jan. 18 in (No. 3 last month) falling to No. 8; last month) crashed the list at No. Montreal to reclaim his position as Beibut Shumenov going from No. 6 3 after a second-round knockout of an elite 175-pounder. to No. 4; Juergen Braehmer (No. 8 Argenis Mendez (No. 4 last month), Mission accomplished. last month) jumping to No. 5; Chad who fell to No. 7. Barthelemy’s Pascal not only defeated his Dawson, Tavoris Cloud and Tony arrival pushed No. 10-rated Sergio strangely listless opponent, he Bellew falling two ranks apiece to Thompson off the list. dominated him almost from Nos. 6, 7 and 9, respectively; and beginning to end. The Haitian- Isaac Chilemba losing one spot to FEATHERWEIGHTS: Chris John Canadian won rounds with ferce, end up at No. 10. (No. 6 last month) announced his retirement following his frst and punishing furries and many single SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Bute’s only loss, to No. 5-rated Simpiwe shots from typically strange angles. last two fghts have been at light Vetyeka. His departure moved And Bute, also in need of a victory heavyweight, so he was dropped everyone from No. 7 Daniel Ponce to resurrect his image, offered very from the 168-pound ratings. De Leon to No. 10 Javier Fortuna little in return in what quickly The vacancy created at No. 10 up a rank, and allowed Nonito became a one-sided, not-all-that- was flled by Marco Antonio Donaire to return at No. 10. entertaining fght. Periban, whose one loss was a The only real drama came in the majority decsion against Sakio JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS: Kiko fnal round, when Pascal inexplicably Bika (No. 8 last month) for the Martinez (No. 5 last month) WBC title last June. stopped throwing punches – and took successfully defended his IBF title with a ninth-round knockout a beating as a result – but he survived MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Darren Barker of Jeffrey Mathebula (No. 2 last and had built an insurmountable lead (No. 5 last month) announced month). Martinez rose to No. 3 on the cards. The fnal scores: 118- his retirement and was therefore while Mathebula fell to No. 8, and 110, 117-111 and 116-112. removed from the list. Those below WBC titleholder Leo Santa Cruz For the record, Bute’s weak effort him slid upward to fll the gap, took the No. 2 spot. obviously played a signifcant role in and familiar Cameroonian Hassan Pascal’s success but the bottom line N’Dam N’Jikam returned at No. 10. BANTAMWEIGHTS: No change. is this: Pascal easily won a fght he JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS: JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHTS: had to win to re-establish himself as a No change. No change. marketable fghter who can command big paydays. WELTERWEIGHTS: No change. FLYWEIGHTS: No change. And Pascal did it in front of his home-region fans, which JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS: Brandon JUNIOR FLYWEIGHTS: No. 3 undoubtedly allowed him to earn Rios (No. 7 last month) tested Kazuto Ioka and No. 2 Moises back any support he lost the past positive for a banned stimulant Fuentes swapped spots after few years. following his Nov. 23 loss to Manny Ioka scored a unanimous decision Thus, we can expect to see Pascal Pacquiao. In accordance with over Felix Alvarado (No. 7 last THE RING’s drug policy, Rios was in a very big fght in the near future. month) in Japan. dropped from the ratings. Everyone One juicy possibility: current RING below him moved up a notch, and STRAWWEIGHTS: Ryo Miyazaki (No. light heavyweight champion and Selcuk Aydin entered at No. 10. 6 last month) moved up to 108 2013 Fighter of the Year Adonis pounds, thus lifting the bottom four Stevenson. It couldn’t get bigger than LIGHTWEIGHTS: Antonio DeMarco up a notch and leaving room for that in Canada. (No. 6 last month) beat unrated Mexico’s Carlos Velarde at No. 10.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 31 THROUGH FIGHTS OF JAN. 19 FOR WEEKLY UPDATED RING RATINGS, GO TO RINGTV.COM

Jean Pascal (left) jumped from No. 10 to No. 3 in the 175-pound ratings after outpointing Lucian Bute in January.

HEAVYWEIGHTS CRUISERWEIGHTS LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS WEIGHT UNLIMITED WEIGHT LIMIT: 200 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 175 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 168 LBS

32 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 MIDDLEWEIGHTS JR. MIDDLEWEIGHTS WELTERWEIGHTS JR. WELTERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 160 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 154 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 147 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 140 LBS

LIGHTWEIGHTS JR. LIGHTWEIGHTS FEATHERWEIGHTS JR. FEATHERWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 135 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 130 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 126 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 122 LBS

HOW OUR RATINGS ARE COMPILED

Championship vacancies can be f lled in the following two ways: Champion does not schedule a f ght at his championship weight 1. THE RING’s Nos. 1 and 2 contenders f ght one another; 2. If for 18 months (even if he f ghts at another weight); 5. The Cham- the Nos. 1 and 2 contenders chose not to f ght one another and pion does not schedule a f ght with a Top-5 contender from any either of them f ghts No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, the winner may be weight class for two years; 6. The Champion retires. awarded THE RING belt if the Editorial Board deems the con- THE RING Ratings Chairman Chuck Giampa considers input tenders worthy. from the Ratings Panel of boxing journalists from around the A champion can lose his belt in six situations: 1. The Champion world but has f nal say on all changes. That applies to both the loses a f ght in the weight class in which he is champion; 2. The pound-for-pound and divisional ratings. Champion moves to another weight class; 3. The Champion does not schedule a f ght in any weight class for 18 months; 4. The Records provided by boxrec.com

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 33 BANTAMWEIGHTS JR. BANTAMWEIGHTS FLYWEIGHTS JR. FLYWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 118 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 115 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 112 LBS WEIGHT LIMIT: 108 LBS

C VACANT C VACANT C AKIRA YAEGASHI C VACANT Japan | 19-3-0 (9 KOs) 1. ANSELMO MORENO 1. OMAR NARVAEZ 1. ROMAN GONZALEZ 1. DONNIE NIETES Panama | 34-2-1 (12 KOs) Argentina | 41-1-2 (22 KOs) Nicaragua | 37-0-0 (31 KOs) Philippines | 32-1-4 (18 KOs) 2. SHINSUKE YAMANAKA 2. CARLOS CUADRAS 2. JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA 2. KAZUTO IOKA Japan | 20-0-2 (15 KOs) Mexico | 29-0-0 (24 KOs) Mexico | 25-2-0 (18 KOs) Japan | 14-0-0 (9 KOs) 3. KOKI KAMEDA 3. SRISAKET SOR RUNGVISAI 3. BRIAN VILORIA 3. MOISES FUENTES Japan | 32-1-0 (17 KOs) Thailand | 23-3-1 (21 KOs) U.S. | 32-4-0 (19 KOs) Mexico | 19-1-1 (10 KOs) 4. MALCOLM TUNACAO 4. TEPPARITH SINGWANCHA 4. EDGAR SOSA 4. ADRIAN HERNANDEZ Philippines | 33-3-3 (20 KOs) Thailand | 25-3-0 (15 KOs) Mexico | 49-8-0 (29 KOs) Mexico | 28-2-1 (17 KOs) 5. HUGO RUIZ 5. ZOLANI TETE 5. JUAN CARLOS REVECO 5. JOHNRIEL CASIMERO Mexico | 33-2-0 (29 KOs) South Africa | 18-3-0 (16 KOs) Argentina | 32-1-0 (17 KOs) Philippines | 19-2-0 (11 KOs) 6. JOSEPH AGBEKO 6. JUAN CARLOS SANCHEZ JR. 6. TOSHIYUKI IGARASHI 6. PEDRO GUEVARA Ghana | 29-5-0 (22 KOs) Mexico | 17-2-1 (9 KOs) Japan | 18-2-1 (11 KOs) Mexico | 21-1-1 (14 KOs) 7. JAMIE MCDONNELL 7. ARTHUR VILLANUEVA 7. GIOVANI SEGURA 7. FELIX ALVARADO U.K. | 23-2-1 (10 KOs) Philippines | 24-0-0 (14 KOs) Mexico | 31-3-1 (27 KOs) Nicaragua | 18-1-0 (15 KOs) 8. TOMOKI KAMEDA 8. OLEYDONG SITHSAMERCHAI 8. HERNAN MARQUEZ 8. ALBERTO ROSSEL Japan | 29-0-0 (18 KOs) Thailand | 51-1-1 (17 KOs) Mexico | 36-4-0 (26 KOs) Peru | 31-8-0 (13 KOs) 9. JULIO CEJA 9. FELIPE ORUCUTA 9. MILAN MELINDO 9. NAOYA INOUE Mexico | 25-1-0 (23 KOs) Mexico | 29-2-0 (24 KOs) Philippines | 30-1-0 (12 KOs) Japan | 5-0-0 (4 KOs) 10. PAULUS AMBUNDA 10. DAIKI KAMEDA 10. ROCKY FUENTES 10. NKOSINATHI JOYI Namibia | 20-1-0 (10 KOs) Japan | 29-4-0 (18 KOs) Philippines | 35-6-2 (20 KOs) South Africa | 24-2-0 (17 KOs)

STRAWWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 105 LBS

THE RING POLICY ON RATED BOXERS WHO TEST tests positive and he waives his right to have the “B” sample tested then the POSITIVE FOR PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS boxer shall immediately be removed from the ratings. A boxer whose “A” sample tested positive and is awaiting the results of his THE RING will remove from its ratings any rated boxer — including a cham- “B” sample will not be allowed to f ght for a championship or rise in the ratings. pion — if such boxer at some point undergoes drug testing (Olympic-style or A boxer who is removed because of a positive test will have the opportunity otherwise) and that boxer tests positive for a performance-enhancing drug. to earn his way back into the ratings after any suspension period is completed. In the event that a boxer has undergone testing in which the boxer pro- A boxer who is dropped also may be reinstated if the testing agency vides two samples (“A” and “B”) and the boxer’s “A” and subsequent “B” subsequently reverses its decision or a court of competent jurisdiction f nds samples test positive for a performance-enhancing drug or if his “A” sample that the test result was invalid. 35 JAPAN PHILIPPINES Abner Mares represents Mexico in the 126-pound 10. Top 2 - 4 RINGTV.COM RUSSIA / KAZAKHSTAN 4.14 AUSTRAILIA ARMENIA UKRAINE THAILAND 5 - 9 JAPAN RUSSIA ARGENTINA UKRAINE AUSTRALIA CANADA GERMANY MEXICO U.S. U.K. PHILIPPINES AFRICA S. CUBA NICARAGUA POLAND 3 6 6 5 4 3 3 3 13 11 10 7 7 6 The U.S. has the most fghters in THE RING THE RING has the most fghters in The U.S. in more is represented Ratings but Mexico the number of are weight classes. Here at these nations have divisions in which 17 are There Note: fghter. least one rated weight classes. VIVA MEXICO VIVA 10 - 19 5 7 6 4 5 7 7 6 8 7 0 2 5 3 4 4 90 10 SOUTH AFRICA GERMANY CAMEROON DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DOMINICAN PUERTO RICO PUERTO UNITED KINGDOM CUBA 6 3 4 7 5 3 4 1 5 3 4 9 6 7 6 6 90 11 AMERICAS WORLD 20 - 29 ARGENTINA MEXICO CANADA NICARAGUA UNITED STATES 30 OR MORE well these days. Still, the Americas – North, South Americas – North, the well these days. Still, do they – dominate the sport. How and Central of the planet? Coincidentally, with the rest compare down. it breaks how Here’s a draw. it’s DIVISION Boxing is truly an international sport, as 37 countries Boxing is truly an international sport, And fghters THE RING Ratings. in represented are Asia seem to be doing particularly from Europe and STRAWWEIGHTS STRAWWEIGHTS TOTAL WELTERWEIGHTS WELTERWEIGHTS JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS LIGHTWEIGHTS JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS FEATHERWEIGHTS JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS BANTAMWEIGHTS JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT FLYWEIGHTS JUNIOR FLYWEIGHTS HEAVYWEIGHTS HEAVYWEIGHTS CRUISERWEIGHTS LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS MIDDLEWEIGHTS JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS AMERICAS VS. AMERICAS VS. WORLD 1 1 1 1 1 AS OF JAN. 18 AS OF 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 8 7 6 30 16 13 10 34 * and welterweight) and Adrien Broner and welterweight) and (welterweight and lightweight). * Includes two ratings for Floyd for Floyd ratings * Includes two (junior middleweight Mayweather Jr. MEXICO UNITED KINGDOM UNITED STATES UNITED STATES TURKEY UGANDA UZBEKISTAN PANAMA PANAMA PERU SPAIN MALAWI MALAWI NAMIBIA FINLAND GHANA JAMAICA COLOMBIA CONGO DENMARK PUERTO RICO PUERTO BULGARIA CHINA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DOMINICAN KAZAKHSTAN 2 POLAND ARMENIA CAMEROON UKRAINE AUSTRALIA NICARAGUA CANADA CANADA GERMANY THAILAND SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA CUBA ARGENTINA PHILIPPINES RUSSIA JAPAN JAPAN BY COUNTRY RATED FIGHTERS FIGHTERS RATED

CANELO: NAOKI FUKUDA; MARES: JEFF BOTTARI/GOLDEN BOY THROUGH FIGHTS OF JAN. 19

FOCUS ON …

WELTERWEIGHTS THE RING staff members’ current A breakdown of THE RING Top 10 in one division each month, champions in the original eight plus a list of f ghters on the cusp of breaking through. This weight classes. month: the 147-pounders.

Gennady Golovkin

MICHAEL ROSENTHAL RING MAGAZINE EDITOR HEAVYWEIGHT: WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: ANDRE WARD MIDDLEWEIGHT: SERGIO MARTINEZ WELTERWEIGHT: FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. LIGHTWEIGHT: MIKEY GARCIA FEATHERWEIGHT: GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX BANTAMWEIGHT: ANSELMO MORENO FLYWEIGHT: ROMAN GONZALEZ

DOUG FISCHER RINGTV.COM EDITOR Juan Manuel Marquez is the HEAVYWEIGHT: WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO oldest and has the LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: ANDRE WARD most f ghts and knockouts among MIDDLEWEIGHT: GENNADY GOLOVKIN rated welterweights. WELTERWEIGHT: FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. LIGHTWEIGHT: MIGUEL VAZQUEZ MOST WEEKS RATED: MANNY PACQUIAO 217 FEATHERWEIGHT: GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX FEWEST WEEKS RATED: SHAWN PORTER 6 BANTAMWEIGHT: ANSELMO MORENO OLDEST: JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ 40 FLYWEIGHT: ROMAN GONZALEZ YOUNGEST: ADRIEN BRONER 24 MOST FIGHTS: MARQUEZ 63 LEM SATTERFIELD STAFF WRITER FEWEST FIGHTS: KEITH THURMAN 22 HEAVYWEIGHT: WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE: (TIE) FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR., TIM BRADLEY, KELL BROOK AND LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: ANDRE WARD MARQUEZ: JOHN GURZINSKI-AFP; GOLOVKIN: NAOKI FUKUDA THURMAN 100 PERCENT MIDDLEWEIGHT: SERGIO MARTINEZ LOWEST WINNING PERCENTAGE: PAULIE MALIGNAGGI 86.8 PERCENT WELTERWEIGHT: FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. MOST KOS: MARQUEZ 40 LIGHTWEIGHT: MIKEY GARCIA FEWEST KOS: MALIGNAGGI 7 FEATHERWEIGHT: GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX LONGEST WINNING STREAK: MAYWEATHER 45 FIGHTS BANTAMWEIGHT: ANSELMO MORENO ON THE POUND-FOR-POUND LIST: MAYWEATHER (NO. 1), BRADLEY (NO. 3), MARQUEZ (NO. 6) FLYWEIGHT: ROMAN GONZALEZ AND PACQUIAO (NO. 7) Note: This is how the weights break down: Heavy- TITLEHOLDERS IN THE TOP 10: MAYWEATHER (RING, WBC), BRADLEY (WBO), PORTER (IBF) AND weight includes cruiserweight, light heavyweight MARCOS MAIDANA (WBA) includes super middleweight, all divisions mid- ON THE CUSP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER): LUIS ABREGU, DEVON ALEXANDER, LEONARD BUNDU, dleweight through f yweight include the “junior” JESUS SOTO KARASS AND JESSIE VARGAS versions, and f yweight also includes strawweight.

36 RINGTV.COM / 4.14

ONE PERFECT

Marcos Maidana became a member of boxing royalty when he stunned Adrien Broner and the boxing world in December.

38 RINGTV.COM / 2.14 WE’LL NEVER LOOK AT MARCOS MAIDANA THE SAME AFTER HIS STUNNING NIGHT DOMINATION OF ADRIEN BRONER By Bart Barry

gone unforgotten in Maidana’s calculating brain. Maidana’s triumphantly deprecating gesture became a signature garnish of sorts for the greatest night of his career – a unanimous decision victory and THE RING’S 2013 Upset of the Year – an evening that was nigh impossible 20 months before, when “El Chino” openly contemplated retirement. “When Devon Alexander beat me,” Maidana said from his home in Santa Fe, Argentina, “it was a frustrating moment for me, and I was confused. I had doubts about my future.” “A tremendous failure,” said Maidana’s manager, Sebastian Contursi, in Buenos Aires. “After that f ght, Maidana was very ust after the depressed because he didn’t halfway mark in win even one single round. We J the 11th round gave him time to recover. I had of his December a personal conversation with title f ght with him, and I said, ‘You have great American potential. You have to rebuild Adrien Broner, Argentine yourself. I have a great trainer welterweight Marcos Maidana for you, and it’s Robert Garcia.’” spun Broner, stood directly “I picked him up at the behind him and thrust his airport, and his cousin was the protective cup thrice against one asking a lot of questions. Broner’s backside. And 11,000 Maidana just sat in the backseat or so South Texans in San and laid down and didn’t say a Antonio’s Alamodome rose word,” said Garcia, Maidana’s in unison to emit a whooping current trainer and a former cackle at Broner’s expense. junior lightweight world titlist. It was payback for the “The f rst thing I thought was, theatrical humping gesture ‘Wow, we’re going to have Broner had perpetrated on troubles with this guy not the matte-gold banner across wanting to be here.’ But once we the seat of Maidana’s trunks started working, it caught my in the closing 15 seconds of attention that he followed every Round 1, when Broner was still single instruction we gave him. boxing’s newest prodigy and He did every single thing he was Maidana was a limited South told, and that was when I knew: American slugger, and it had This is the kind of guy we want

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 39 ONE PERFECT NIGHT

in our gym. “Who would’ve ever thought that Maidana could do something like that to Broner, before?” Never have so many euphoric boxing fans left the Alamodome as did that night. It was mostly schadenfreude directed at Adrien Broner, a fgure who, for a large number of reasons, made it delightful to cheer his defeat. In the fght’s opening moments, perhaps any Latino whaling away on Broner would have pleased the partisan-Mexican crowd, but the man who spun Broner in the 11th and returned the American’s sexual innuendo received cheers for himself personally, and for his triumph over unreasonably long odds. “That was funny, but I felt I had to get it back to him after he had humped me early in the fght,” said Maidana. “During all the process leading up to the fght, Broner always had a disrespectful and arrogant attitude, and I said it was going to be different in the ring.” “The media can make my left shoe into a superstar,” said Paulie Malignaggi, the two-division world titlist who provided commentary for Showtime’s broadcast that night. “Broner showed some character, hanging in there for 12 rounds. But at that point, your mouth has written so many checks that Maidana has the attitude of an Old West gunslinger: punch frst, ask questions later. your ass has no choice but to stand in there and cash them.” Master golf instructor Harvey Penick once imparted the he’s reached your level, he has awkward fghter who can following advice to a member grooved his faults and knows punch is, if he reacts differently of his University of Texas team: how to score.” That was a than what you’re anticipating, “Don’t be afraid of the player lesson Adrien Broner did not you cannot take too many with a good grip and a bad bring in the ring with him in chances because if you get swing. Don’t be afraid of a Texas, the very same way Victor caught you may go to sleep,” player with a bad grip and a Ortiz neglected to bring it to his said Malignaggi. “I saw Adrien good swing. The player to be own coronation in 2009. Amir Broner trying to do that little aware of is the one with the Khan neglected it, too, in 2010. touch jab he always does, stick bad grip and the bad swing. If “The problem with an that little jab out, then hit you

40 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 with the right hand. Five months later, Erik “There’s two problems Morales stripped a good bit MARCOS there. One, Maidana doesn’t of fearsomeness from the respect your power. And two, Maidana brand by lasting all you don’t have a follow-up for 36 minutes with the Argentine MAIDANA the right hand.” in a match critics had insisted Maidana’s footwork is not was too dangerous for the THE ESSENTIALS particularly adept. He crosses unretired Mexican master. Eight his feet over when he pursues an months after the lusterless Age: 30 opponent, swimming violently victory, a match that brought ahead in a somewhat amateurish more acclaim to Morales than Hometown: Buenos Aires, display of enthusiasm. Such Maidana, “El Chino” scored a Argentina uneconomical motion is as likely stay-busy stoppage over Russian a culprit as any for the late- Petr Petrov and prepared for a Nickname: El Chino round lack of endurance that has welterweight debut that would occasionally plagued him. When mark his undoing. Turned pro: 2004 one considers the malice he Evidently unwell in Missouri on affxes to the knuckles of every Feb. 25, 2012, Maidana got fully Division: Welterweight punch, though, that Maidana outclassed by St. Louis contender (147 pounds) does not fade early and always is Devon Alexander, losing 29 of a wonder of its own. 30 possible points on the offcial Height: 5 feet 7 inches Maidana has a chin that takes scorecards of their 10-round (170 cm) on dents but is not breakable, fght. He became despondent. more tin than porcelain, “Anybody who knows Stance: Orthodox a handicap the Argentine Maidana recognizes that he was overcomes with the same quality not there,” said Contursi. “He Record: 35-3 (31 KOs) he employs against his every was very ill that night.” other shortcoming: aggression. “He wanted to retire,” said Record in title fghts: “He swings to hurt,” said Garcia. “But all the guys in my Garcia. “Maidana goes in the gym are very friendly. They 1-2 (0 KOs) ring to knock everybody out. started going to his hotel and Biggest victories: That’s the way he fghts. Every then fnding their way of talking punch he throws is hard.” to him. He became friends with Victor Ortiz, TKO 6, 2009 “He has almost a Felix everybody. He fell in love with (frst fght in U.S.); Victor Trinidad mentality in that you the sport again.” Cayo, KO 6, 2010; Erik drop him or you hurt him, and Seven months after his career’s Morales, MD, 2011; Josesito he roars back,” said Malignaggi. worst defeat, Maidana made his Lopez, TKO 6, 2013; Adrien “We saw that against Victor first match as part of Robert Ortiz and Amir Khan.” Garcia’s Oxnard, Calif., stable Broner, UD, 2013 (won WBA After his entirely unexpected and beat down veteran Mexican 147-pound title). triumph over Ortiz, in a 2009 truth-detector Jesus Soto Karass, fght that came 4½ months dropping him in Round 7 and Losses: Andreas Kotelnik, after his frst loss, Maidana stopping him in Round 8. After SD, 2009 (for WBA dropped his fourth defense of blasting out Angel Martinez in 140-pound title); Amir the 140-pound title he took from Buenos Aires three months later, Khan, UD, 2010 (for WBA Ortiz in a unanimous decision Maidana went to Carson, Calif., to Khan, another anointed to face local Josesito Lopez. In 140-pound title); Devon golden child (or silver as the case a savage affair, Maidana was Alexander, UD, 2012. happened to be) whom Maidana buckled several times before Note: bullied and chased maniacally his relentless aggression – at Maidana held the for most of their match’s fnal times effective, often ineffective, WBA’s “regular” junior stanza, as Khan, wide-eyed and always relentless – broke Lopez welterweight title, which THE frightened, skipped desperate and ended their fight in RING doesn’t recognize. laps round the ring. Round 6.

3.14 / RINGTV.COM 41 “I’ve improved my defense, Maidana (right) wasn’t able to beat Amir Khan but provided drama even in defeat. the way I use my guard and the way I parry some punches,” said Maidana about his altered style. “Also Robert calmed me down, ‘Maidana’s not going to be able to nurture him, building his because I usually punched myself to hit him, and it’s money in the toolbox and not merely his out early in fghts.” bank.’ And I told him, ‘Bro, I knockout ratio, Broner relied on Some combination of fought the guy, and I’m telling businessmen and a hairbrush. He Maidana’s power being absent you I don’t like the bet.’” was an exceptional athlete but against Alexander and his Promotional spots, press an unproven fghter – which is lingering defensive carelessness conferences and pre-fght a way of imparting that Broner being exploited by Lopez likely workouts for December’s understood his own body but won Maidana the “honor” to match, all fxated on Broner not others’. place a crown atop Broner’s as boxing’s future great, the Maidana understood both, swelling head. self-proclaimed heir to the and for all his relative want of “I did get a call from a friend “Money” Mayweather crown. refex and defensive prowess, of mine the night before the An imitation is never as pure it was immediately apparent fght, and he said he put in a big as its original, though, and Maidana was the better fghter ETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAGES bet on Broner in Vegas,” said whereas Mayweather had a at the Alamodome. He rushed Paulie Malignaggi, who lost a fghting family to raise him, an across the ring at Broner in split decision to Broner in June. amateur career that culminated their fght’s opening instant and “And I said to him, ‘Why would in an Olympic bronze medal and initiated things with a surprising you do that, dude?’ And he said, exceptional early matchmaking belligerence – a wish to set their

42 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 ONE PERFECT NIGHT

‘ABILITY “Make Broner think that we’re f ght, so then I had to make it going to try to win the rounds even dirtier. It was like that. And FOR ABILITY, like Paulie did, by going to the after I hit him, he exaggerated.” body with a lot of punches,” After spinning him and MAIDANA’S said Garcia of the strategy he humping him with a vengeful NOT GOING TO hatched. “He doesn’t expect sort of relish in Round 11, the feint to the body and then Maidana fought a finally SCARE ANYBODY, coming up with the left hook desperate Broner off him in BUT IT’S HIS on the head. He never expected the 12th and celebrated when that. Second round, Marcos did all three scorecards landed on AWKWARDNESS that and dropped him.” the proper side of the ledger, Maidana’s left-hook lead scoring the match in Maidana’s THAT THROWS YOU in Round 2 began with a jab favor: 117-109, 115-109 and OFF, HIS PUNCHING feint, one that dropped both 115-110. of Broner’s red gloves below “It is the greatest night POWER THAT the shiny gold “About Billions” of my career,” Maidana said THROWS YOU OFF.’ script on his waistband, while at ringside. turning Broner from front foot The only meritocracy boxing – PAULIE MALIGNAGGI to back, snapping his chin to reliably runs is the one that the exact spot Maidana’s racing happens between its ropes and left fist went. Broner dropped in bells, and that is why, contrary to the ropes, and his face betrayed Maidana’s assumption after his a first dash of what horror now beating of Broner, the Argentine pushed through fissures in his does not top the lottery list nonchalant façade. Broner rose of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s on legs rigid as wooden pegs, prospective opponents for 2014. genuinely imperiled. “Everybody was calling “Maidana became the Broner the next Floyd,” said absolute boss,” wrote Osvaldo Garcia. “Even Floyd himself Principi, an award-winning was saying that Broner was the next 36 minutes in the personal writer with La Nación in next Floyd. Mayweather should space between two men where Buenos Aires, “pulverizing say this is the fight that he contempt and resentment cause Broner who, bleeding and needs.” rage. Maidana’s ferocious form without a base – his footwork “He is the best in the world, of combat served him perfectly – was obligated to suffer really,” Maidana said of well, focusing his mind on the permanently in the match. He Mayweather, “but that does not thriftiest way to bring the most finished small and fragile.” make him invincible.” extraordinary pain possible. Maidana had not merely “Ability for ability, Maidana’s He jabbed to Broner’s body outhit Broner but outsmarted not going to scare anybody, repeatedly in the beginning. It him, making him bite foolishly but it’s his awkwardness that appeared merely a means of on a trap baited with the throws you off, his punching letting Broner know he was American’s own arrogance power that throws you off,” there. But it was much more. and presumptiveness. Maidana said Malignaggi. “Can he make “I thought Maidana was dropped him again in Round that work against Floyd? I have using that jab to the body 8 and then fouled him with my doubts. But would I want to as a rhythm-breaker,” said a head butt that sent Broner see it? Yeah.” Malignaggi. “Then when he flopping to the canvas in search Regardless of how such a threw that hook to the head, I of an escape hatch from what fight would go, regardless of AL BELLO/ GETTY IMAGES saw that it started to come out four rounds remained in his where his career goes from here, like the jab, then he changed the contractual obligation. Marcos “El Chino” Maidana trajectory into a hook. When I “It was nothing,” Maidana told will always have his one perfect saw it, I said, ‘Wow, that’s what Principi in his dressing room and unlikely December night in he was doing. Great setup!’” afterward. “Broner made a dirty San Antonio.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 43 OPINION AN ANTI-HERO’S

Adrien Broner (right) didn’t receive much sympathy after his one-sided loss to Marcos Maidana.

44 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 hen Marcos MANY FANS Maidana COMEUPPANCEW handed Adrien EXPRESSED JOY Broner his WHEN BRATTY f rst beating and the f rst ADRIEN BRONER loss of his pro career, it sent a WAS PUMMELED BY wave of euphoric joy through much of the boxing world. The MARCOS MAIDANA Tim Smith By exuberance was not the same as when Joe Louis defeated German Max Schmeling and sent U.S. boxing fans streaming into the streets to celebrate. No, this was classic enjoyment at the misfortune of others. Not since Dorothy’s house dropped on the Wicked Witch in Oz has there been such a universal outpouring of glee. The Twitter world exploded. There were mocked-up photos of a beaten and battered Broner with derisive captions. It seemed a proper send-up for a boxer who has used social media to build RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 45 AN ANTI-HERO’S COMEUPPANCE

himself into boxing’s bad boy. Broner’s cockiness “Everybody likes to see the fueled his critics after he lost to Maidana. anti-hero get beat,” said a friend who is a huge boxing fan. Sure, that’s true. But there was more to it than that. At the height of his career, Muhammad Ali was an anti- hero because of his refusal to fght in Vietnam and because of his conversion to Islam. Even though he had his detractors, they didn’t hold a parade down Eighth Avenue the night he lost to Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden in 1971. Mike Tyson was “The Baddest Man on the Planet” in more ways than one. When Buster Douglas ripped away his veil of invincibility and KO’d Tyson in Tokyo in 1991, there wasn’t a mass rally by his critics. And the masses probably will not create a national holiday if Floyd Mayweather Jr. ever loses. But it’s very diffcult to deny his genius in the boxing ring. Broner isn’t nearly as accomplished as Mayweather or as well known as Ali and Tyson. But among boxing fans, Broner is as disliked as all of them combined. A bratty braggart with little on his resume to support his oversized swagger, Broner

BY SENDING VULGAR TWEETS AND CHRONICLING HIS BAD BOY LIFESTYLE HE HAS REPULSED A MAJORITY OF BOXING FANS.

46 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 JEFF BOTTARI/GOLDEN BOY/GETTY IMAGES it hasbeena two-edged sword. him intoaboxingcelebrity. But would followhimandhelp build so hecouldbuildafanbase that obviously thinkingthatby doing as hispersonalplayground, did tohiminthering. why theylovedwhatMaidana don’t likewhattheysee. That is what youget. And mostpeople good anactor. What youseeis couldn’t anyway. He’s notthat a popularitycontest, andhe to him. Heisn’t trying towin and itdoesn’t seemtomatter or charismaofMayweather, and anod. “Money” characterwithawink is cleverenoughtoplaythe materialism, Mayweather lot ofpeopleoffwithhisgross record. And whileheturnsa an unblemishedprofessional up withasterlingresumeand and arrogant, hehasbackedit While Mayweatherisboastful turned offmanyboxingfans. was thekindofarrogancethat apparent toMayweather. It embraced thelabelasheir their fght. Neither PaulieMalignagginorBroner handledthemselveswithgracegoinginto Broner hasusedsocialmedia Broner doesn’t havethecharm over thetop. Hewanted people trying toaccomplishbybeing he understandswhatBroner is an arrogantbrathimself. So Malignaggi wassomething of empathized withBroner. didn’t cheerwhenhelost. He to cloudhiscommentary. He the promotionoftheirfght happened betweenthemduring He saidheneverallowedwhat broadcast ofMaidana-Broner. Showtime’s expertanalystforthe do withtheactualboxingmatch. and vulgar, andithadnothingto The backandforthwasprofane his playtounnerveopponent. former girlfriendsasapropin trotted outoneofMalignaggi’s was stomach-turningashe match againstPaulieMalignaggi top. The pressconferenceforhis boxing, Bronertakesitoverthe trash talkingistoleratedin boxing fans. he hasrepulsedamajorityof chronicling hisbad-boylifestyle but bysendingvulgartweetsand He hasincreasedhispopularity, When hestartedoutinboxing, Malignaggi wasringsideas While acertainamountof the fameandattentionhaveled out-of-this-world person.” of ways. Hemorphedintothis money overtookhiminalot this before... thefameand is. Idon’t thinkhewaslike shtick. It’s him, whohereally people realizethatit’s not to performtheshtick. But said. “He’s gotthebigplatform around toseeit,” Malignaggi circle thattherewasnoone role, andtherewassuchasmall and Iwasplayingthebadguy fghts andmoremoney. thought itwouldlandhimbigger to noticehim, becausehe will tell.” him moreappealingtothe fans. could humanizehimandmake following hislosstoMaidana, it sheds someofthearrogance experience foraboxer. If Broner A frstlosscanbeahumbling keep thehater’s backlashatbay. victories aretheonlywayto in oneearandouttheother.” “He lookedatme, anditwent Malignaggi saidhetoldBroner. you. Turn itdownalittlebit,” looking forareasontolike remember you. Peopleare be thevillaintomakepeople disliked. You no longerhaveto following theirmatch. to giveBronersomeadvice start torootagainsttheguy.” changed. He’s thesameguy. You it’s notreallytrue. Hehasn’t changed him. Butyoucansee saying howgettingarrestedhad with Showtimewhenhewas “You sawintheinterview genuine,” Malignaggisaid. off, youcouldseeitwasn’t ever turnitoff. Broner tobelievethathecan’t Malignaggi saidthemoney, “I rememberturningpro, Said Malignaggi: “Only time As Mayweathercanattest, “Try alittlelesstobe Malignaggi saidhetried “Even whenheturnedit 4.14 / RINGTV.COM 47 AT A LOSS

HOW WILL ADRIEN BRONER, CANELO ALVAREZ “I never thought of AND ABNER MARES RESPOND TO losing, but now that it’s THEIR FIRST happened, the only DEFEATS? THAT DEPENDS ON thing is to do it right.” WHAT THEY’RE MADE OF — Muhammad Ali, By Norm Frauenheim after his frst loss.

But how? How does anyone do it right? Ali did it – did it right – in the years after suffering a 1971 defeat he never contemplated, anticipated or imagined against Joe Frazier. That landmark loss is fundamental to the Ali story. Without it, Ali might not be the global icon he is today. With it, there was adversity. He was no longer unbeaten. No longer untested, either. There were two rematches with Frazier. There was Manila, George Foreman and Zaire in a drama that began with a loss and ended in a legend. Ali is a defning example of how that frst defeat can be transformed into opportunity. On any career path, it’s a crossroads that fghters are told to expect. Adrien Broner, Canelo Alvarez and Abner Mares are there now. The unforeseen has happened, leaving each with a comeback Muhammad Ali’s frst loss – to Joe Frazier to plot and potential self-doubt staring back at them when (left) – was only a they look in the mirror. temporary setback. That frst loss is a tumble into the dangerous unknown 4.14 / RINGTV.COM 49 AT A LOSS

for every fghter forced to make some context. the trip. How will they react? Yet, it’s a resource relevant After the zero on the right side only in hindsight, an academic of the won-lost column has exercise valued mostly by vanished like a doughnut hole, writers and historians. In it’s hard to know what or who the here-and-now of an will replace it. The 0 can be a approaching threat at opening fghter’s identity. It’s a mark bell, only a fool would seek of confdence or a symbol of defeat. Losing is about as invincibility. Some believe it’s as much fun as a head butt and important to Floyd Mayweather dangerous to ego, aspirations Jr. as a dollar sign. Maybe, maybe and income. The uncertainty not. Maybe it’ll always be there is perilous, loaded with equal for Mayweather, just as it was for amounts of risk and reward. Canelo Alvarez joined a long list of Rocky Marciano. For Broner, Alvarez fghters who were frustrated by Floyd Defeat isn’t inevitable. Only and Mares, there’s not much Mayweather Jr. scars are. Marciano never lost. choice since each lost in Neither did Joe Calzaghe, 2013 – Broner to Marcos Edwin Valero, Sven Ottke and Maidana in December, Alvarez that erodes confdence and stalls Pichit Sitbangprachan. It’s no to Mayweather in May and a promising career? coincidence, perhaps, that their Mares to Jhonny Gonzalez in For now, Broner vows to names aren’t included among August. Confront the peril or turn the loss into a lesson that the Top 10 on many all-time get into a different line of work. will propel him toward his pound-for-pound lists, either. Simple as that. advertised potential. A record without a loss almost Above all, it’s Broner’s loss by “This is just a minor setback seems incomplete. Defeat a unanimous decision that has for a major comeback,” Broner provides another dimension that generated most of the attention. said through his Twitter account. measures a career’s depth and a It was big enough to be THE Broner also has been quoted as fighter’s substance. It provides RING’s Upset of the Year. It was saying the loss will turn him into further magnified by Broner’s a monster. flamboyance. What Broner doesn’t want His X-rated, over-the-top is another loss to Maidana. behavior often made him look That would resurrect talk of more like boxing’s next Miley him being the next Zab Judah. Cyrus than the heir-apparent to Judah is at the wrong end Mayweather. It outraged and of what can happen in the entertained, yet always served aftermath of losing for the first its purpose. To wit: The public time. He was as big a prospect knows Broner. But notoriety as any when he turned pro in also turned him into a very 1996. He went 27-0 before he big target for fans who were fought Kostya Tszyu. In the delighted to see him taste defeat opening round, Judah rocked, for the frst time in a one-sided then mocked Tszyu. In the ALVEREZ/MARES: NAOKI FUKUDA; BRONER: RONALD MARTINEZ decision to Maidana at San second round, he dropped Antonio’s Alamodome. his hands. Tszyu capitalized, His rematch with Maidana, dropping Judah with a crushing planned for April, could provide right hand. Referee Jay Nady sports psychologists with a new ended it at 2:59 of the round. chapter in their ever-evolving Judah, who angrily protested diagnosis of defeat. Will his ego the stoppage by grabbing his Adrien Broner apparently will have a defate faster than a punctured stool and waving it at Nady, chance to avenge his stunning loss to balloon at the Macy’s Day was never the same, going 15-8 Marcos Maidana. Parade? Or will a healthy ego over his next 23 bouts. protect him from suffering a crisis Judah was left with confdence

50 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 IMPACT OF FIRST LOSS Some notable fghters have responded well to their frst losses, bouncing back quickly and often performing as well or better than ever. For others, their frst setback can be the beginning of their decline. as fragile as a glass chin in the the way he does, this could be Here are three who succeeded after their taste of wake of a frst loss. Ali represents a real letdown. They really talk defeat and three who didn’t. what can happen. More often themselves into thinking that than not, however, Judah is the they can’t lose, that they’re super- SUCCEEDED reality, the history that repeats human or something. JOE LOUIS itself. Fernando Vargas is another “They’ll still have the bragging First loss: Max Schmeling, 1936 (KO 12) H Record H example. He was 20-0 when and everything. But when they’re before frst loss: 24-0 Record after frst loss: 42-2 H Background: Louis seemed to be on his way he met Felix Trinidad in 2000. alone at night and wondering: to becoming heavyweight champ when the experienced Vargas, a 1996 Olympian, was ‘What happened. I didn’t think German, who said he saw a faw in Louis’ technique, still an emerging prospect. this guy could fght that much. stopped the 22-year-old American in the 12th round. Trinidad was near his prime. But he really hurt me, had me Louis used the setback as motivation and went on to become arguably the greatest heavyweight ever. For Vargas, however, the bout down a couple of times. Maybe was about money. He collected my chin is not as good as I RAY ROBINSON $4 million, but paid a price in thought it was.’ First loss: Jake LaMotta, 1943 (UD 10) H Record terms of what it did to the rest of “I mean, all of those doubts before frst loss: 40-0 H Record after frst loss: H his career. He was knocked down can be erased in a good 133-18-6 Background: Robinson was outweighed by 16 pounds when he lost to LaMotta and beat the twice in the frst round. Trinidad performance. But in that frst “Bronx Bull” in fve other meetings. Plus, he went scored a 12th-round knockout. one, you’ve seen, down through 88-0-2 in the 90 fghts following his frst setback to Like Judah, Vargas was never the the years, what can happen. build a reputation as the best fghter who ever lived. So same with a 6-4 record over the Matchmaking is important. You Robinson’s frst loss, perhaps more than any other, didn’t mean much. next seven years. can get the guy an easy fght for “That frst loss is really, really a confdence-builder. You get a MUHAMMAD ALI tough for some,” said Hall of tomato can, a guy who couldn’t First loss: Joe Frazier, 1971 (UD 15) H Record Fame promoter Don Chargin, win no matter what happens. before frst loss: 31-0 H Record after loss: 25-4 H who has seen it all in his long But a lot of times not even that Background: Ali had fought only twice after his three-year layoff when he met Frazier for the frst time. and storied career. “For Broner, helps, because, in their mind, Like Louis, the setback seemed to make him stronger. I’m really anxious to see what they know. They know they’re He went on to record many of his greatest victories, happens. A guy who usually fghting somebody who can’t including a knockout of George Foreman that gave him talks as much as he does, acts beat them. That leaves a whole the heavyweight title 10 years after he frst won it. set of other questions. Guys just begin to out-think themselves.” STRUGGLED JOE FRAZIER In some ways, a frst-time loss First loss: George Foreman, 1973 (TKO 2) H Record can be as devastating as a defeat before frst loss: 29-0 H Record after frst loss: midway through a career. It can 3-3-1 H Background: Frazier was only 29 when the haunt a fghter for as long he bigger, stronger Foreman stopped him in two rounds. stays in the game. “Smokin’ Joe” wasn’t fnished. He recorded victories over Joe Bugner, Jerry Quarry and Jimmy Ellis and gave Bobo Olson, the world’s a breathtaking effort against Ali in the Thrilla in Manila, middleweight champ in the but he was never the dominating fghter he had been. mid-1950s and THE RING’s 1953 Fighter of the Year, never NASEEM HAMED H recovered from a knockout loss First loss: Marco Antonio Barrera, 2001 (UD 12) Record before frst loss: 35-0 H Record after to Archie Moore, who stopped loss: 1-0 H Background: Hamed, a brash, talented him two minutes into the third Briton who peaked in the late 1990s, was fying high round of a bout for the light going into his fght against Barrera. He had dominated heavyweight title on June 22, a series of capable opponents and showed no signs of slowing down. Then Barrera embarrassed him, winning 1955, at the Polo Grounds in a one-sided decision. Hamed fought once more and then New York. retired at only 28. “When Bobo was the middleweight champ, he was ZAB JUDAH H really known for having a great First loss: Kostya Tszyu, 2001 (TKO 2) Record before frst loss: 27-0 H Record after loss: 15-8 Abner Mares (left) will have to chin,” Chargin said. “I mean, H Background: Judah had the look of a star when overcome the shock of being stopped nobody could hurt him. Then, he he faced Tszyu. The New Yorker was holding his own by Jhonny Gonzalez. [easily defeated] Joey Maxim. It when he was caught by a big right to the chin and went was really a setup for the Archie down. He got up but, on wobbly legs, fell down again and the fght was stopped. Judah won some major titles afterward but was never as respected as he was pre-Tszyu. 3.14 / RINGTV.COM 51 AT A LOSS Moore fght. But Archie really changed him. But only after Boxer-turned-trainer crucifed him. Knocked him dead. training camp opens and Robert Garcia (right) After that, he continued to fght. the frst punch lands will he went only 2-2 and then retired after he suffered I got him a few fghts, four or know whether the defeat his frst loss, to Diego fve, after that. But he didn’t have altered the way he sees himself Corales in 1999. confdence in that chin any more. and his career. Ask Maidana “Prior to the Archie Moore trainer Robert Garcia about fght, Bobo would always kid me, that. Garcia retired within two saying that nobody in the world years after he lost for the frst could hurt him. But he was never time in 1999 to the late legend the same after Archie Moore. Diego Corrales. Never. He would even tell me Garcia was 32-0 when Corrales that every time he got hit, he stopped him in the seventh round thought about the Archie Moore of a Fight of the Year contender fght. I mean, that kind of a thing for the IBF version of the junior can really work on a guy’s mind.” lightweight title. Garcia fought For Broner, the best antidote four more bouts, including might be a short memory. Instead losses to Ben Tackie and Joel of a confdence builder in a Casamayor, before retiring in tune-up at lightweight or junior September 2001. welter, however, Broner has “My last fght was when I chosen an immediate rematch was 26,” said Garcia, whose with Maidana at 147 pounds. admiration for Corrales is Even Mayweather, his hero and exemplifed by a picture he mentor, advised him to take an has of him on the wall in his easier bout. But it sounds as if gym, the Robert Garcia Boxing Broner just wants to quickly Academy, in Oxnard, Calif. “A prove that the Maidana loss was lot of people told me and still an aberration. ask: ‘Why did you quit? Why “Yeah, I might have taken my didn’t you make a comeback?’ frst L, but watch how I come “I could have done it. But back fghtin,” Broner said in a when you don’t have the desire tweet. “I love everybody [who to get up in the morning and hates] me. And the ones who jog, you shouldn’t be doing it stayed down with me while they anymore. You don’t want your try to bring me down, I will be trainer waking you up, telling welterweight champ again.” you you have to train. That Broner’s stubborn tone means your body shouldn’t be suggests that the loss hasn’t doing it anymore. That’s when I said it was over.” Garcia, who said he frst started training as a 5-year- old, isn’t certain whether he ‘YOU DON’T WANT YOUR just grew weary of the regimen TRAINER WAKING YOU UP, that had ruled his life for two decades. But a loss was a signal TELLING YOU YOU that it was time to at least think HAVE TO TRAIN. THAT about a change. MEANS YOUR BODY For Broner, that thinking AL BELLO/ GETTY IMAGES SHOULDN’T BE DOING IT might be a simple adjustment in tactics, or diet, or training, or ANYMORE. THAT’S WHEN lifestyle. Doing it right means I SAID IT WAS OVER.’ doing it to win, the only thing — ROBERT GARCIA to do after a loss.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 53 54 RINGTV.COM / 2.14 UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY THE DEPARTURE OF VITALI KLITSCHKO HAS OPENED ll the costly shortcuts Chris A Arreola took THE DOOR FOR during training in recent years somehow led CHRIS ARREOLA “The Nightmare” on the right road toward fulf lling his dream. TO FIGHT In another ironic twist, the huge heavyweight who annihilated Arreola in his BERMANE STIVERNE f rst shot at a world title inadvertently afforded Arreola his second championship FOR A MAJOR chance. After the WBC named Vitali Klitschko its heavyweight TITLE IN SPITE champion emeritus Dec. 16, the Mexico City-based sanctioning organization ordered Bermane OF ARREOLA’S Stiverne, its No. 1 contender, to face Arreola, its No. 2 contender, in a rematch for its vacant SETBACKS heavyweight title. A date and site for the rematch By Keith Idec had not been determined at press time, but Arreola had already begun training for the f ght, an encouraging sign that the affable Mexican-American actually will remain committed to preparing properly. Arreola said his approach to training f nally changed in the aftermath of his defeat in their f rst f ght, when Chris Arreola is now reality hit him harder than the focused on Bermane Stiverne right hand that broke Stiverne, whom he his nose. is expected to face for the vacant WBC Losing a unanimous decision heavyweight title. to Stiverne last April 27 forced

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 55 UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY

Arreola to realize that, at 32, he of having the chance to avenge Phoenix area to train for the was wasting his vast potential his loss to Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 Stiverne rematch or have Arreola and running out of opportunities KOs) and become the frst fghter temporarily move into Ramirez’s to become a heavyweight of Mexican heritage to win a home to help keep him focused. champion. After all those public recognized heavyweight title all “Chris’ problem isn’t him proclamations to his fans and in one fght. training,” Ramirez said. private promises to his trainer Henry Ramirez, Arreola’s “Whenever he makes it to the and promoter, the colorful trainer the past 11 years, gym here at home, he’s fne. contender from Riverside, Calif., believes this rededicated Arreola He’ll work his [butt] off. The halted a perplexing pattern of is here to stay. problem at home is that he irresponsible behavior before “I think he realized that wouldn’t always make it. It’s a fghts that harmed his career. window of opportunity wasn’t 10-minute or 15-minute drive The 6-foot-4 Arreola seems to going to be open forever,” from his house in Riverside, and understand now that he cannot Ramirez said. “After losing to something would always come continue coming into high- Stiverne, he was really motivated up. In Arizona, we all lived in profle fghts out of shape, not the same house, so it was very, if he wants to be remembered very structured. It was, ‘OK, as more than just an expletive- we’ll be at the gym at this time. spewing tough guy Klitschko ‘I THINK HE We’ll do conditioning at this clobbered one night at Staples REALIZED THAT time in the evening.’ I knew his Center. That’s why Arreola whereabouts every single minute (36-3, 31 KOs) went away to WINDOW OF of every single day.” training camp for his last fght OPPORTUNITY The thought of every against Seth Mitchell, whom single minute of every single Arreola knocked out in the frst WASN’T round of his loss to Stiverne round Sept. 7 in Indio, Calif., to aggravates Arreola. rejuvenate a crumbling career. GOING TO BE The frst two rounds were “There comes a time in life OPEN FOREVER.’ relatively uneventful, but where someone that has not Stiverne changed the fght really put his full attention to his – HENRY RAMIREZ for good with a devastating craft fnally realizes, ‘I had better right hand he landed just do it now,’” said Dan Goossen, before the bell to end the third Arreola’s promoter. “That’s the round of a 12-round bout Chris Arreola I see today. Going for the Mitchell fght, extremely HBO broadcast from Citizens into the Stiverne fght, going into motivated. He was saying in a Business Bank Arena in Ontario, the Klitschko fght, going into lot of interviews, ‘If I lose to Seth Calif., about 20 miles from a lot of his fghts, I just think Mitchell, I’m going to retire.’ Riverside. The Haitian-born, he believed that his toughness People were asking, ‘What do Quebec-bred contender crushed and grittiness and ability would you think of that?’ I said, ‘If he Arreola with a right hand his carry him through. But I just loses to Seth Mitchell, I’m going bigger, supposedly stronger think he has come to realize that to encourage it.’ He just knew opponent never saw coming. the results he saw against Seth his back was against the wall.” The punishing punch dropped Mitchell are the type of results That pressure pushed Arreola Arreola for just the second time you get when you give 100 to rent a house in Scottsdale, in his 10-year pro career and percent to getting prepared.” Ariz., prior to the Mitchell broke his nose. Dominating Mitchell (26-2- fght. “The Nightmare” trained Forced to breathe through his 1, 19 KOs), a former Michigan at a gym in nearby Phoenix, mouth for the remaining nine State linebacker beset by an and Ramirez kept the keys to rounds, an under-conditioned unreliable chin, didn’t just their SUV so Arreola couldn’t Arreola couldn’t cut off the ring make Arreola appreciate the go AWOL, as he sometimes did against the feet-footed Stiverne, importance of training like a during training camps back who out-boxed Arreola to win by professional prizefghter. His home in Riverside. At press large margins on the scorecards impressive victory also put time for this issue, they were of judges Carla Caiz (117-110), him into the perfect position considering a return to the Marty Denkin (118-109) and

56 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 ADMIRATION FOR KLITSCHKO

to return to boxing. Arreola (left) didn’t fare well Klitschko believes he in his only fght for a world Chris Arreola would’ve title, against Vitali Klitschko has retired for good in 2009. loved to get another shot this time, but Arreola has learned to never at Vitali Klitschko. say never in this sport. “I lost to the best,” Arreola said of Klitschko. “I Arreola’s technical knockout loss to Klitschko in have no excuses for it. I lost to the best. He was their September 2009 fght for Klitschko’s WBC the best at that time and probably one of the best heavyweight title will always bother him. But he of this era. I’ll have no shame winning the title has even more respect now for the 42-year-old against Stiverne. Everyone’s reign has to end and Klitschko (45-2, 41 KOs), who recently relinquished someone else’s begins. That’s how I take it. My the WBC title to prepare for a run at the Ukrainian respect goes out to Vitali Klitschko and if he ever presidency in 2015, than the night their fght ended. thinks about coming back, and I have the title, I’ll “If he has the opportunity to do something like be waiting for him.” that, to help his community and help his family, It’s more likely that Arreola eventually would the people that need the help the most, my hat goes face Vitali Klitschko’s younger brother, Wladimir off to him,” Arreola said. “I respect him for that, Klitschko, in a unifcation fght if he defeats especially in a country that’s war-torn like that, Stiverne. Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KOs) is THE with all those riots and everything that goes on RING’s heavyweight champion and also owns the there. He’s doing the right thing. He’s trying to help IBF, WBA and WBO titles. his country.” “I’ve got to beat Stiverne,” Arreola said. “But after Since Klitschko retired in December, the WBC I defeat Stiverne, I want to unify the belts. I want to ordered a rematch between Bermane Stiverne be the undisputed heavyweight champion. It hasn’t (23-1-1, 20 KOs) and Arreola (36-3, 31 KOs) been done for a long time, and I want to be that for its vacant heavyweight title. The WBC also guy to do it. Wladimir, he has to take care of [WBO named Klitschko its champion emeritus, which mandatory challenger Alex] Leapai. Good luck with would allow him to box whoever holds the WBC that. But my job is Stiverne. After that, we’ll worry

JACOB DE GOLISH/GETTY IMAGES heavyweight title in his frst fght back if he decides about Wladimir.” — Keith Idec

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 57 58 Shannon Briggs. titleholder, heavyweight the lastU.S. (left) dethroned Sultan Ibragimov got punched, andithurtsobad. because everytimeIgotinside, I somebody, andIcouldn’t doit of fghterthatbringsthefghtto I evergothitwith. I’mthekind most painful, excruciatingpunch every punchafterthatwasthe was broken, Ikepttrying. But Arreola said. “Once mynose are theonesthathurtmost,” didn’t seeitcoming, andthose Claude Paquette(117-110). Arreola (right)rejuvenated hiscareer withafrst-round knockoutofSethMitchellinSeptember. “That [bleeping]righthand, I RINGTV.COM / 3.14 part aboutit, becauseI’mthe the painwasexcruciating is. That’s partofboxing. But The bleedingpartiswhatit mouth. Iwasswallowingblood. I hadtobreathethroughmy to winit, regardlessofanything. but Ikepttrying, man. I’minit catch him. Icouldn’t breathe, was onepunch. Ijustcouldn’t division, man, andallIneeded We’re intheheavyweight “I stillhadthewilltowin. held atleast onemajortitle. in which no U.S.bigman are thefourlongest periods longest inhistory. Here heavyweights isby farthe drought forAmerican The current championship DROUGHT LONGEST was stoppedafter10one-sided losses toKlitschko(251), which but wasevenheavierforhis his threeprofessionaldefeats, weighed atleast247foreachof the 6-foot-2Stiverne. Hehas fght, onepoundlessthan at 247poundsfortheStiverne couldn’t doit.” dictates thepace, andIreally somebody, I’mtheonethat one thatbringsthefghtto A regretful Arreola weighedin

AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES; ABOVE: ALEXIS CUAREZMA/GETTY IMAGES UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY

rounds in September 2009 at make a lot of punches happen 2008 because he’s a powerful Staples Center in Los Angeles, on his head.” puncher, has more than enough and Tomasz Adamek (250½), If Arreola makes good on defensive flaws to make who won a 12-round majority his promise and avenges the most of his fights thoroughly decision over Arreola seven Stiverne setback, the proud entertaining and often gives months later at Citizens Business Mexican-American will not honest, hilarious post-fight Bank Arena. only become the frst boxer interviews. Still, his losses and Arreola, ranked No. 7 among of Mexican descent to win a seemingly never-ending training THE RING’s heavyweight recognized heavyweight title. issues have worn on those contenders, considers his Beating Stiverne, ranked No. who no longer consider him optimum fghting weight 4 by THE RING, also would championship material. They’ve anywhere in the high 230s or allow Arreola to become the frst driven Arreola and his handlers low 240s. He weighed 242 for American to a hold a version of as they’ve prepared to take one the Mitchell fght, yet is much the heavyweight championship last run at heavyweight history. more concerned with knowing since Shannon Briggs in 2007. “It would be great to shut he is in great shape than hitting “I’ve always dreamed about some people up,” Ramirez said. a specifc number on a scale the being a champion,” Arreola “You’ve got naysayers and day before the Stiverne rematch. said. “I never thought I’d be detractors. I think it’d be great. “I’m not going to give no a heavyweight, but I always He’s been the target of much excuses on how I trained for our dreamt about being a champion. ridicule for various reasons, for frst fght,” Arreola said. “Did Now that I’m a heavyweight, his weight and for the way he I train how I was supposed to? what an honor it would be. Not speaks. And I’m not going to say Hell no. I should’ve trained a only that, I’d be bringing the title a lot of it hasn’t been deserved. lot harder for Stiverne. I took back to America. I’m a proud But I think it would be great to Stiverne lightly. Out of a week, American, frst and foremost. I see him overcome himself, more I probably went three, four days want everybody to know that. than anyone, to get to the top.” out of the week [to train], and My father [Agustin Arreola] That’s where Ramirez thought that’s pushing it. and mother [Lucy Rivera] came Arreola was headed the night “My training wasn’t up to par, to the United States [from he made his pro debut in but that’s no excuse for why I Mexico] so that when they had September 2003. Ten years and lost. Stiverne beat me. He kicked kids, they’d have a better life, three losses later, Ramirez has my ass. It is what it is. I’m going that they could live life the way legitimate reasons to believe to give him respect. I’m not you’re supposed to. I thank “The Nightmare” isn’t over just going to be like Victor Ortiz, my parents for having me in yet. and say, ‘Oh, he hit me with a America, because I love it.” lucky punch.’ [Forget] that. He Many fans have loved Arreola Keith Idec covers boxing for The hit me. He made that punch since he became a regular on Record, of Woodland Park, N.J. happen. And now I’m going to premium cable channels in

6 YEARS, 2 YEARS, 2 YEARS, 2 YEARS, 0 MONTHS 9 MONTHS 10 MONTHS 3 MONTHS H Lost it: Gene Tunney (U.S.) retired July 31, H Lost it: Shannon H Lost it: Marvin H Lost it: James J. 1928, after which the title remained vacant for Briggs (U.S.) lost the Hart (U.S.) lost Corbett (U.S.) lost almost two years. Max Schmeling (Germany) WBO title to Sultan the championship the championship defeated Jack Sharkey (U.S.) on a foul to win Ibragimov (Russia) to Tommy Burns to Bob Fitzsimmons the championship on June 12, 1930. H Won on a decision June (Canada) on a (U.K.) by knockout it back: Sharkey outpointed Schmeling in a 2, 2007. H Won it decision Feb. 23, March 17, 1897. H rematch to win the title June 21, 1932. We’re back: No American 1906. H Won it Won it back: James not including the period during which the title has held a title since. back: Jack Johnson J. Jeffries (U.S.) was vacant for the purposes of this chart. (U.S.) stopped Burns stopped Fitzsimmons on Dec. 26, 1908. on June 9, 1899.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 59 OPINION

JOSE SULAIMAN: A MIXED RECORD THE LATE PRESIDENT OF THE WBC DID SOME GOOD BUT ALSO WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS QUESTIONABLE ACTIONS By Thomas Hauser

60 RINGTV.COM / 2.14 Jose Sulaiman was loved by many but not everyone. Jose Sulaiman, who built the World Boxing Council into a global empire, died in Los Angeles on Jan. 16. He had undergone open heart surgery at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Hospital on Oct. 1 of last year and was in an intensive care unit for 50 days afterward. He never fully recovered.

Sulaiman was a master diplomat and a man of great personal charm. Guinness World Records aff rms that his 38-year reign as president of the WBC made him “the longest-serving president of a world sports organization.” Under Sulaiman’s leadership, the WBC expanded to 161 member countries. To Sulaiman’s credit, he took a stand in the 1970s against the sanctioning of championship f ghts in apartheid South Africa. He also led the way in cutting world championship f ghts from 15 to 12 rounds, which I believe was a sincere effort to protect the health of f ghters.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 61 JOSE SULAIMAN: A MIXED RECORD

There were people, including Internal Revenue Code. It is infuence in boxing, but he was members of Jose’s family, who not a charitable organization. one of them. genuinely loved him. They have But morally, if not legally, it is It was never quite clear where my sincere condolences. But it charged with a public trust. the line was drawn between the would be a disservice to history It was widely understood WBC and Sulaiman’s personal to not deal honestly with the throughout Sulaiman’s tenure fnances. One former member whole of Sulaiman’s legacy. as president that the way to of the WBC board of governors The WBC is offcially get what one wanted from the (a successful businessman in his designated as a not-for-proft WBC was to massage Jose’s ego own right) observed, “There’s corporation organized under and add to the WBC’s coffers. no budget. There’s no reserve Section 501(c)(6) of the He wasn’t the only corrupting fund. There’s no money set aside

Sulaiman (left) was often surrounded by the best in the business.

62 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 IT WAS WIDELY manager who benefted from a JOSE UNDERSTOOD … Sulaiman favor, there were others SULAIMAN THAT THE WAY TO whose dreams were crushed by his unsettling ways. AT A GLANCE GET WHAT ONE There was one historic moment of accountability. On WANTED FROM March 21, 1998, Graciano May 30, 1931 – Born in THE WBC WAS TO Rocchigiani thought he had Ciudad Victoria, Mexico. won the vacant WBC light MASSAGE JOSE’S heavyweight championship by His father was an immigrant EGO AND ADD beating Michael Nunn. Then, from Lebanon. after the fact, he was told that he TO THE WBC’S had only fought for an “interim 1947 – Became a junior COFFERS. belt” and Roy Jones (who paid boxing commissioner in substantial sanctioning fees to San Luis Potosi, his home the WBC by virtue of his multi- state in Mexico, after fght contract with HBO) was boxing as a boy. the real WBC champion. Rocchigiani sued the WBC in 1968 – Began working for federal court in the United States and won a $31 million judgment. the World Boxing Council. Sulaiman then threatened to for hard times and no fnancial take the WBC into bankruptcy 1975 – Elected president of accountability that I’m aware of. and create a new sanctioning the WBC, a position he held No matter how much we take in, body unless the fghter accepted until his death. there’s never any money left at a lesser amount. That led writer the end of the year. It’s all spent, Tim Graham to observe, “The 1982 – Announced after and that’s very suspicious to me.” WBC has fled for bankruptcy to the death of Duk Koo Kim in More notably, the WBC avoid paying a $31 million court the ring that WBC title fghts (like the other major world judgment. Just being morally sanctioning organizations) was bankrupt apparently wasn’t would be reduced from characterized by unconscionable good enough.” Ultimately, the 15 to 12 rounds, only one rankings and a multiplicity of matter was settled with the WBC of many steps he took to titles (world champions, interim agreeing to pay $1.2 million protect fghters. champions, silver champions, up front to Rocchigiani plus champions emeritus) that $300,000 a year for 10 years. 1990 – Withheld from ensured an endless stream of Jose Sulaiman had a passion Buster Douglas recognition sanctioning fees but demeaned for boxing. It’s sad when as heavyweight champion the sport. someone who has the potential Sulaiman’s reign was also to do so much good doesn’t pending a review of his marked by the shameless attempt get the maximum good out knockout of Mike Tyson, one to deprive Buster Douglas of of his powers. I wish he had of many times his actions the WBC heavyweight title after listened to his better angels and drew heavy criticism. he knocked out Mike Tyson used his remarkable skills to in Tokyo; the appointment of advance boxing in a more self- 2007 – Inducted into judges who deprived Pernell sacrificing way. the International Boxing Whitaker of victory over Julio Cesar Chavez; and the Thomas Hauser can be reached Hall of Fame. misappropriation of Sergio by email at [email protected]. Martinez’s crown in favor of His most recent book (Straight Jan. 16, 2014 – Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Writes and Jabs: An Inside Look Died at 82 in Los Angeles These abuses and others like at Another Year in Boxing) was of complications them didn’t happen by accident. published by the University of from heart disease. For each fghter, promoter, or Arkansas Press.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 63 WILL ALVAREZ VS. ANGULO SELL?

THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS ‘YES’ IF A PUBLIC PRESS CONFERENCE IN L.A. IS ANY INDICATION By Doug Fischer

64 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 LOS ANGELES – Canelo promotion. Alvarez still has Alvarez and Alfredo Angulo fans after laying an egg against kept their comments brief Mayweather last September and and direct, as did the probably collected a few haters, undercard f ghters, during who also lay out money to buy the kick-off press conference f ghts. And while Angulo is not in downtown L.A. for the a superstar, he is an exciting March 8 pay-per-view event f ghter with passionate backing. in Las Vegas. If Showtime and Golden Boy Everyone said basically the are lucky, a signif cant number same thing at the podium: “I of fans will pay to see Alvarez come to f ght, and I expect a win, while others will pay to see good f ght.” him lose, and a third group — Golden Boy CEO Richard probably the hardcore fan base Schaefer expects the MGM — will pay to see Angulo upset Grand Garden Arena, which the 23-year-old. holds about 16,000 for boxing “I’m glad that many of his events, to be sold out well fans are here,” Alvarez (42-1-1, before f ght week. 30 knockouts) said of Angulo’s But the big question for barking supporters. “But my Showtime and Golden Boy fans are better.” Promotions, which teamed up Accordingly, the Guadalajara to make many quality cards last native said he wants to give year, is this: Will there be enough those fans a better f ght than he pay-per-view buys to make the produced against Mayweather, show a f nancial success? who dominated him in a tactical If fan turnout at the presser chess match. He couldn’t have and advance ticket sales are any picked a better opponent than indication, there’s a good chance Angulo, a pure pressure f ghter that “Toe To Toe: Canelo vs. with a debilitating body attack Angulo” (the card's off cial title) and a hard left hook – the punch Alfredo Angulo will do solid business. that f oored Lara twice during (at the top of the During the outdoor event, their f ght. previous page) is a large group of Alvarez If Angulo can make for a arguably the most potent offensive fans, many of whom were compelling f ght against Lara, a threat Canelo female, loudly chanted the former Cuban amateur star who Alvarez has faced. redhead's moniker – Spanish has been in his share of stinkers, for “Cinnamon” – a familiar he should be able help Alvarez sound to the former junior rekindle the excitement. middleweight champ who lost “Why f ght Alfredo Angulo?” his 154-pound titles to Floyd Alvarez asked rhetorically, Mayweather Jr. via unanimous “Because he’s a good f ghter decision in his last bout. and a strong f ghter who comes However, Angulo, who is also forward. He can take a punch, coming off a loss – a thrilling and he can give a punch.” 10th-round stoppage against “Giving punches” is exactly Erislandy Lara last June – also what should be expected from had a vocal group of supporters Angulo (22-3, 18 KOs), a present at the media event. They 31-year-old Mexicali native who booed whenever Alvarez spoke represented Mexico in the 2004 and barked whenever Angulo, Olympics. In fact, he is arguably

ALVAREZ: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES; ANGULO: HARRY HOW/GOLDEN BOY/GOLDEN BOY/GETTY IMAGES; INSET: GENE BLEVINS - HOGANPHOTOS/GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS. GENE BLEVINS - HOGANPHOTOS/GOLDEN BOY IMAGES; INSET: BOY/GETTY HOW/GOLDEN BOY/GOLDEN HARRY ANGULO: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES; ALVAREZ: nicknamed “El Perro” (“The the biggest offensive threat that Dog”), was at the mic. Alvarez has ever faced. This is good news for the Alvarez has faced strong

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 65 WILL ALVAREZ VS. ANGULO SELL?

fghters, such as Shane Mosley TOE-TO-TOE UNDERCARD and former 115-pound beltholder. and Carlos Baldomir, but unlike Schaefer believes Golden Boy Santa Cruz (26-0-1, 15 KOs) is those former champs, Angulo is has stacked the pay-per-view a Mexican-American from Los still in his athletic prime. Alvarez undercard enough to earn buys Angeles, but the 25-year-old two- has faced big fghters, such as from hardcore fght fans – division titleholder has a Mexican Kermit Cintron and Austin especially Mexican and Mexican- fghting style, and he’s more Trout, but unlike those tall and American fans. comfortable speaking Spanish rangy boxers who elected to “We’ll be celebrating Cinco than English. operate from a distance, Angulo de Mayo on Ocho de Marzo,” Mijares (49-7-2, 24 KOs), will physically impose himself on Schaefer joked. a 32-year-old southpaw from the young Mexican star from the Carlos Molina (22-5-2, 6 Durango, is 14-1 in his last 15 opening bell. KOs), a Chicago-based native of bouts, which includes a decision That’s just what he does. Michoacan, Mexico, will defend over Alberto Rojas for the IBF Angulo says his rugged pressure his IBF junior middleweight 115-pound title and a ninth-round fghting style is the reason he title against undefeated prospect TKO of former 122-pound champ continues to have fans despite Jermall Charlo (17-0, 13 KOs) in Rafael Marquez in a featherweight the setbacks he's suffered, such the opening bout of the pay-per- bout. The lone loss in that 15- as the Lara fght or his 2011 view broadcast. bout stretch was a split decision to stoppage loss to James Kirkland. In the second bout of the Victor Terrazas, who Santa Cruz “I’m the same Alfredo Angulo,” card, Ricardo Alvarez, Canelo’s crushed in three rounds last August he said. “That’s what I do in brother, will take on unbeaten to win the WBC 122-pound belt. every fght. I’ve earned my WBC lightweight beltholder “I’m happy to be in the co- respect with my fghts and the Omar Figueroa, a 23-year-old featured bout of such a big card,” way I fght.” Mexican-American slugger whose Mijares said. “I know Leo Santa Angulo’s trainer, Virgil popularity is growing in his Cruz is a good fghter, so I’m Hunter, had the most to say native Texas. motivated for this fght. It’s going about the matchup. Many fans and ringsiders to be a war.” “I think the fght will come thought Alvarez (23-2-3, 14 Although Mijares is a smart down to what each fghter did KOs) was lucky to get a majority and savvy boxer, he’s been in in his last fght,” Hunter said. decision over Rod Salka in his his share of tough fghts against “Their last fight says a lot last bout on Dec. 14. However, the best fghters of three weight about each man. Alfredo had Salka is a crafty and mobile boxer classes (junior bantamweight, Erislandy Lara. He had him, with a good jab. Figueroa (22- bantamweight and junior but he had an unfortunate 0-1, 17 KOs) is a decent boxer, featherweight). He has lost to accident with getting a thumb but he’d much rather fght. So Vic Darchinyan and Nehomar in his eye. Canelo has implied Alvarez, who likes to walk his Cermeno (twice); and he has that Floyd Mayweather ran opponents down, won’t have to scored victories over Jorge Arce, from him. Well, Erislandy Lara look for “Panterita.” Alexander Munoz, Katsushige is known to move around a lot, To get an idea of Figueroa’s Kawashima (twice), Chatchai and Alfredo Angulo employed a appetite for violence all one Saskul and Tomas Rojas. strategy that dealt with it, and needs to do is watch his brutal Mijares also owns a 2008 he gave Lara the worst beating 12-round war with Nihito split decision over former junior in the Cuban’s career. Arakawa, which earned him bantamweight contender and title “Saul should have employed a the WBC’s interim belt last July. challenger Jose Navarro. Santa strategy to deal with what Floyd It remains to be seen whether Cruz, a 19-year-old prospect with gave him. But in this fght, there Alvarez is as tough as the only fve pro bouts under his belt will be no running. Each man Japanese veteran, who will take at the time, sparred with Navarro has to sleep at night wondering on talented Jorge Linares in a to help the 2000 U.S. Olympian why he lost his last bout, and 10-round “freeview” preceding prepare for Mijares. each has to decide what he’s the pay-per-view card. “I’ve known about Mijares ever going to do in his next bout.” And Leo Santa Cruz will defend since the Navarro fght,” Santa On March 8, boxing fans will his WBC junior featherweight Cruz said. “I’ve watched him fght have to decide if fnding out is title against Cristian Mijares, a over the years, and I know he’s a worth paying for. skilled but gutsy Mexican veteran great fghter.”

66 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 PACQUIAO-BRADLEY II

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Was Bradley really Manny Pacquiao (left) and PACQUIAO, BRADLEY, JUDGES Timothy Bradley will be face WILL HAVE A DO-OVER hindered by foot to face in the ring again on injuries in the frst April 12. By Michael Rosenthal meeting, as he claimed? If so, does that mean anny Pacquiao and Timothy Pacquiao could be in trouble against a healthy Bradley? Bradley will have the opportunity Pacquiao did enough to win the frst fght but fought M to set the record straight on mostly in spurts, which was uncharacteristic of him. April 12 at the MGM Grand in Was he showing signs of age? He’s 35 now. He had an Las Vegas. easy time with Rios. Will he have enough for a quicker, Neither received satisfaction the more skillful Bradley? frst time they met, on June 9, 2012, in the same Bradley decided to fght Provodnikov toe to toe arena. The loser (Pacquiao) was cheated, in the because he wanted to score a knockout, which he felt opinion of most people, and the winner (Bradley) would make a statement after the Pacquiao debacle. received very little credit. Will he do the same thing on April 12? If he does, So their second meeting, which was announced a would that play into Pacquiao’s hands? few days before our press time, will be like a do-over, Will Bradley opt for the more cautious approach he an unusual chance for both fghters – and offcials – took against Marquez? If so, will that leave Pacquiao – to get it right. and the fans – frustrated? A lot has happened since Pacquiao-Bradley I. Pacquiao has more punching power than Pacquiao was stopped by a single punch from Juan Marquez. Will the pounding Bradley took against Manuel Marquez six months after the Bradley fght. Provodnikov haunt him when Pacquiao lands one or He bounced back with a victory over Brandon Rios two hard shots? almost a year later, which reaffrmed the Filipino’s Will the judges in Las Vegas be inclined to give status as an elite fghter. Pacquiao the beneft of any doubt because of the Bradley survived a war with Ruslan Provodnikov earlier injustice? Even if they don’t, will the notion in March of last year that was so brutal Bradley had that Bradley might not get a fair shake weigh heavily headaches and slurred speech for weeks afterward. on his psyche? He outboxed Marquez seven months later to prove More to the point: Will the judges get it right he was not damaged goods and remain undefeated. this time?

JOE KLAMAR That leads us to April 12 and many questions. We will learn a great deal on April 12.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 67 ★ ★

2014 HALL OF FAME ★ ★ STEESTAINLESS

68 RINGTV.COM / 3.14 BOXING FANS WILL ALWAYS DEBATE THE CHAVEZ-TAYLOR STOPPAGE BUT EVERYONE CAN AGREE THAT RICHARD STEELE WAS A GOOD LE REFEREE By Ron Borges

The historic brawl between Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler (right) was only one of many important f ghts referee Richard Steele worked.

Richard Steele’s long road from at-risk youth in the streets of Los Angeles to the International Boxing Hall of Fame began, f ttingly, with someone trying to give him a beating. Isn’t that how it usually starts in boxing? “It started as a joke,” the 70-year-old Steele recently recalled while discussing his rise from high-school dropout to one of the finest referees in boxing history. “I started boxing in the Marine Corps because my DI [‘drill instructor’ in boot camp at Camp Pendleton, the

INSERT: ETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAGES INSERT: massive Marine Corps base outside San Diego] was trying to

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 69 STAINLESS STEELE CLASS OF 2014 get me beat up. his frst fght at the Olympics. I “He put me in the ring with fgured I could have done that.” The 12 boxing fgures who will another platoon bad guy, and Steele tells that story with a be inducted into the International I ended up winning. After that, deep baritone chuckle, the irony Boxing Hall of Fame in June. anytime somebody had someone of what happened amusing a who was supposed to be a man whose life would become problem, I was the company’s intertwined with boxing for the MODERN guy [to fght him]. I didn’t know next 50 years. Last bout no earlier than 1943 how to box, but fghting was After the Trials, Steele’s hitch JOE CALZAGHE something that always came to in the Marines was nearly over. me. I’d been fghting all my life. When it ended, he came home to OSCAR DE LA HOYA “I knew how to fght. I just L.A. and was introduced to two FELIX TRINIDAD didn’t know how to box. men who would continue his Fortunately, the guys they made transition into the boxing life: OLD-TIMER me fght didn’t know how to Jackie McCoy and Eddie Futch. Last bout must fall between 1893 box, either.” McCoy, a legendary Southern and 1942 Soon enough Steele began to California fght manager, took GEORGE CHANEY learn the art of boxing alongside over Steele’s career, and Futch, a burly leatherneck named Ken who many believe is the greatest CHARLES LEDOUX Norton, who would go on to trainer ever, took over his MIKE O’DOWD become Muhammad Ali’s nemesis preparations. Futch asked him and the B-side of one of the one day if he’d ever heard of a PIONEER greatest heavyweight title fghts Marine from San Diego who Last pro bout in or before 1892 in history, his epic 15-round people said could fght a little. TOM ALLEN battle for the WBC title with “Eddie asked me if I knew Ken Larry Holmes. Norton and if he had any talent,” Steele was a quick study, Steele said. “I said ‘Hell yeah he NON-PARTICIPANT becoming All-Marine Corps does.’ That’s when Eddie began to EUGENE CORRI, referee champion in 1963 and going train him, and we fought out of BARRY HEARN, promoter on to the 1964 Olympic Trials, the same camp.” where he lost in the 165-pound Steele turned pro in 1966 as RICHARD STEELE, referee division to eventual Olympian a light heavyweight and won Jimmy Rosette of the Navy. It nine of his frst 10 fghts, eight OBSERVER was a bittersweet moment for a by knockout. All were in the GRAHAM HOUSTON, kid who’d had no boxing dreams legendary old fght house at journalist just three years earlier but 1801 S. Grand Avenue in L.A., unwittingly had found his calling. the Olympic Auditorium, which NEIL LEIFER, photographer “Once I started to learn the was the breeding ground for skills I began to see things I was great fghters from the 1930s to capable of,” recalled Steele, who the late ’70s. to get work, and I got my ribs will join Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Nearly every great Southern broken three times,” Steele said. Trinidad and Joe Calzaghe among California fghter appeared there “The last time [during a split- the members of the 2014 Hall of in those years, the weekend decision loss to Chuck Hamilton Fame class in June. “That’s one fght cards attracting some of on Oct. 22, 1970, in which Steele of the things boxing can do for Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, dropped Hamilton in the third a young man. It can teach him but as Steele began to have round] the doctors told me I discipline and show him he can success McCoy found it ever could have punctured a lung and accomplish something. more diffcult to fnd him died. That was it for me. It turned “I was a high-school dropout, opponents. So Steele made a out to be a blessing in disguise.” MIKE FIALA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES but after that I went back and fateful decision: He moved to the His four-year career ended with got my degree. When I got to the heavyweight division and there a 12-4 record and no reason Trials, my only disappointment met his match. It was size ... or to think life would continue to was the guy who beat me won lack thereof. revolve around boxing. Then his the whole thing and then lost “I started to fght heavyweights phone rang.

70 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 today, I tell them the way I came up in all those small towns and getting out by the skin of my teeth sometimes. I felt I could referee anywhere.” The frst place was the Fairgrounds in El Centro, a boxing way station near the Mexican border, on April 21, 1972. Steele would work four fghts that night, three preliminaries and a 10-round fght won by Danny Kimberling. Who knew that 43 years later his phone would ring again as it did in 1970? “As much as I always wished and hoped this might be the year I got into the Hall of Fame, when my wife handed me the phone, I just could not believe it,” said Steele, who retired from refereeing in 2006. “It was the completion of my life. All the good things that have happened to me were because of boxing.” Among those good things were three of the biggest fghts Steele deducted two points when Mike Tyson dropped Orlin Norris after the bell to end Round 1 of their 1999 fght. of the 1980s: Aaron Pryor’s frst knockout of Alexis Arguello, the three-round frestorm between Marvin Hagler and Thomas It was a call from the California title fghts, including some of the Hearns, Hagler’s controversial State Athletic Commission, biggest matches in the sport’s split-decision loss to Sugar Ray proposing he begin training to history. But no one starts with a Leonard and the controversial become a referee. It was an idea title fght. last-second stoppage of the 1990 Steele dismissed as nonsense. It would take Steele 18 fght between Julio Cesar Chavez “I told them, ‘I don’t want months to offciate his frst and Meldrick Taylor. to be no referee,’” Steele said. professional fght, working The Chavez-Taylor fght may Fortunately he wasn’t stubborn amateur shows as he learned a well be the moment for which about that after Futch took him new trade, one in which space, Steele is best remembered. With aside and informed him when timing and emotional control only seconds remaining in a opportunity knocks, even if it’s mean everything. brutal fght Taylor was winning, the sound of a phone ringing, a “In those years we traveled all Chavez dropped him, and when man should answer. over the state,” Steele said. “I did Taylor arose, he was swaying “Eddie told me, ‘Do you a lot of fghts practicing in other as if he was on the bridge of a know you’d be only the second people’s hometowns. It could be destroyer in heavy seas. black referee in the state of a rough time getting out of there Twice Steele asked him if California?’” Steele said. “I called depending on how things went he was all right as he counted them back.” for the local boy. to eight. Across the ring, That was a break for Steele and “Oakland. San Diego. Stockton. Chavez was like a panther, his a bigger one for boxing because Bakersfeld. San Francisco. muscles tense, his body tilting thus began a career that would Sacramento. I went everywhere forward, ready to leap on his lead him to work 167 world to work. When I train referees wounded prey.

3.14 / RINGTV.COM 71 ATSTAINLESS A LOSS STEELE ‘I ASKED When Taylor did not respond knows what might have but instead looked away at his happened? No one knows. All [MELDRICK manager, Lou Duva, who was they know is a red light f ashed TAYLOR] TWICE IF climbing onto the ring apron, and a f ght nearly won was lost. Steele stopped the f ght as the A Philadelphia journalist who HE WAS ALL RIGHT. light behind Taylor blinked red, knew Taylor well still insists NO ANSWER. THE the warning sign that less than 10 he’d earned the right to victory. seconds remained. Richard Steele insists he earned DOCTORS TOLD ME When Steele waved his hands, the right to be protected. Maybe signaling the f ght was over, two the latter is why he is a Hall of LATER THE REASON seconds were left in the bout. Fame referee? HE COULDN’T TALK Taylor’s cornermen were savage Maybe because all he cared and so was his promoter, Dan about was being there when a WAS BECAUSE THE Duva. A large contingent of badly wounded f ghter needed WATER AROUND media members agreed, insisting protection, protection not only Steele should have let the f ght from Chavez but from the idea HIS BRAIN HAD go on. that victory was more important DEHYDRATED. Steele believed then, and does than Taylor was. now, that he was right. His f rst “It’s a thin line for a referee,” HE WAS IN THE responsibility, he tells the young Steele said solemnly. “You have referees he trains today, is to to make the decision.” HOSPITAL FOR protect the f ghters. That’s what He made one in the Hagler- FOUR DAYS. I he did to the best of his ability, Hearns f ght as well, a f ght many although the truth is Taylor was consider the most furious eight NEVER DOUBTED never the same after that night. minutes in boxing history. When FOR A MINUTE THE “Always the safety of the Hearns split open the middle of boxer,” Steele said when asked Hagler’s forehead, Steele took DECISION I MADE.’ what a referee’s f rst job is. “First one look and stepped in, taking – RICHARD STEELE and foremost. They are putting Hagler to the ringside doctor. their lives on the line. You have The middleweight champion to be sure you are there when was irate. Steele was f rm. you need to be there and stay out “I took pride in always being “You have to believe in of the way when you don’t need in shape,” Steele said. “I was in yourself,” Steele said. “One of the to be there. It’s a thin line. top condition that night, and let most important things is space. “The kid was winning the f ght me tell you, after two rounds, I You can’t be too close. You can’t as an amateur and losing it as a could barely breathe. I knew they be too far away. You have to be professional. Amateur boxing is couldn’t keep it up, because I aware but relaxed. about scoring points. Professional knew I couldn’t keep it up. “I’m not a spectator. I’m the boxing is about damage. Time “Hearns hit Marvin with a referee. You can’t get mesmerized makes no difference. If one right hand that split his head by what’s going on. You can’t get f ghter gets the other in the open. There was so much blood. caught up in the f ght. If [you do] condition Meldrick Taylor was in Hagler thought I was stopping you’ll jump in there too early or – unable to think, unable to talk the f ght. He was really pissed too late. You have to be relaxed – the referee has to step in. off, but the doctor needed to to be there on time, to be able to “I asked him twice if he examine him.” see what’s really going on.” was all right. No answer. The The result was that the f ght Richard Steele always saw what doctors told me later the reason continued but not for long, was going on, f rst as a young he couldn’t talk was because Hagler f nishing Hearns off with referee on the rise in California the water around his brain a barrage of punches that left and for the past 32 years in Las had dehydrated. He was in the the latter in Steele’s protective Vegas, a move he made after hospital for four days. I never embrace. That night he was on being told he would have been doubted for a minute the decision the other side of that thin line but asked to work the Larry Holmes- I made.” only after he’d been assured that Gerry Cooney f ght. He says it One more punch and who the f ght should go on. was “the biggest f ght in history

72 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 WBC world title fght between David Diaz and Jose Armando Santa Cruz for the lightweight title, a fght won in spectacular fashion by Diaz. It came four months after Steele thought he’d retired, a decision made after working an explosive fght between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Zab Judah that erupted into a near riot. His quick actions helped quell things before members of the Judah camp lost total control of themselves. “I always said when athletes quit they should quit on top,” Steele said. “When Mayweather and Zab had that war, fghting after the bell and all, I thought ‘Let me get out of here.’” He came back at the NSAC’s insistence and worked 16 more fghts over the next four months but realized it was time to move on. Since then, he has begun Steele Boxing to serve at-risk youth throughout southern Nevada with a boxing program that emphasizes both the sport and keeping kids in school while also continuing a ministry begun Steele’s last-second stoppage of the fght between Meldrick Taylor (pictured) and many years ago. Julio Cesar Chavez will always be debated but Taylor clearly was in bad shape. Asked how one rationalizes the unforgiving world of boxing with a ministry, Steele at the time,” but the referees in into the ring. During the days reacted the same way he did Nevada were upset about the of apartheid in South Africa, he for 40 years inside the ring: idea of bringing a California ref refused to travel there to referee without hesitation. in to handle it. world title fghts. Years later “One is to bring pain and one Even though by then he’d Nelson Mandela would meet is to relieve pain, but both are already begun to work fghts in Steele and thank him for the to save,” Steele said. “Save a Las Vegas, that one got away. stance he took, a moment Steele kid. Save a fghter. I tell young After it was over, he looked still remembers. referees boxing is a sport. It’s into moving and was told by “I spent several days talking not like gladiator days, with ‘till then-Nevada State Athletic to him,” Steele said. “Nelson death do us part.’ It’s not the Commissioner Sig Rogich he’d Mandela is one of the greatest days of lions and tigers. All we be welcomed. Knowing that, men I ever met. To hear him want to know is who is the best Steele told his wife, “‘I have to speak my name was a great fghter today.” take it.’ I guess it turned out to moment. When I step up next Come next June. we’ll be AL BELLO/ GETTY IMAGES be the right move.” June to get that Hall of Fame reminded of what we should Making the right move was ring, I’ll feel the same way I felt already know as well: that something Steele was known for that day.” Richard Steele was as good a throughout his career, not only in Steele worked his last fght on third man in the ring as ever the ring but also by not getting Aug. 8, 2006. Fittingly it was a stood there.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 73 BOOK REVIEW A WORTHWHILE LOOKMIKE AT TYSON

UNDISPUTED TRUTH, THE FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, IS FLAWED BUT COMPELLING By Thomas Hauser

Tommy Brooks, who trained Mike Tyson brief y late in the f ghter’s career, told the former heavyweight champion, “Man, you’re going to be in a wheelchair and people are still going to be wondering what you’re up to.” Tyson’s autobiography – Undisputed Truth, written with Larry Sloman (Blue Rider Press) – helps satisfy that curiosity. The book’s title is a misnomer since some of what Tyson says in it is very much in dispute.

74 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 MIKE TYSON

THE RING MAGAZINE home in1989. with awhitetigerathis He ispictured here one reason oranother. attracted attentionfor Mike Tyson always 4.14 / RINGTV.COM 75 A WORTHWHILE LOOK AT MIKE TYSON

For example, one can believe or disbelieve him when he states that he didn’t rape Desiree Washington and that his conviction was a miscarriage of justice. I’ve come around to the view that, in Tyson’s mind, he was innocent of the charge. But a 12-person jury disagreed with his version of events. That said, Undisputed Truth is worth the read. The book begins with a chilling recreation of the depraved and degrading environment that Tyson came from. He grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, N.Y., surrounded by violence. For many of his childhood years, the family (which consisted of Mike, his mother, brother and sister) lived in abandoned buildings. His biological father, who sired 17 children by various women, was absent. Tyson began drinking at age 10 and using cocaine at 11. He slept in the same bed with his mother until he was in his teens, sometimes with one of her lovers beside them. Much of the book is a recitation of the craziness and exploration of personages that the world already knows: Cus D’Amato, Don King, the managerial team of Jimmy Jacobs and Bill Cayton, Robin Givens, Desiree Washington and others. Tyson writes in his autobiography that promoter Don King (left) was among those who There’s Tyson biting Evander took advantage of his naivete. Holyfeld’s ear and his self- justifcation because Holyfeld had repeatedly head-butted him. mission; broken home, unloved, adult clubs. The most vivid portrait is of and destitute; hard and strong Tyson admits to having been the man whom one might call and sneaky. He trained me to be a substance abuser for most Tyson’s “creator” – D’Amato. totally ferocious, in the ring and his life and calls himself a “Cus wanted the meanest out. To Cus, my opponents were “quintessential addict.” After fghter that God ever created,” food. Nourishment. Something beating Trevor Berbick to win Tyson says. “Someone who you had to eat to live.” the WBC heavyweight crown, scared the life out of people There’s a lot of graphic sex he was featured in a “just say no before they even entered the in Undisputed Truth, with to drugs” television and print

ring. I was the perfect guy for his prostitutes, with groupies, and in advertisement campaign. At the AL BELLO /ALLSPORT

76 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 be a villain.” Regarding his three-year incarceration after a jury found him guilty of rape, Tyson says, “Prison doesn’t rehabilitate anyone. It debilitates you. I don’t care how much money you earn when you get out, you’re still a lesser person than when you went in. Prison took the whole life out of me.” And there’s the fnancial feecing of Tyson at every level, by his women, by Don King and by others he trusted. There are people who hustled him and he still doesn’t know it. The ultimate irony might be that Mike Tyson, who came from the streets, didn’t have street smarts. Undisputed Truth is infused with self-loathing. Tyson references himself as “stupid ... wretched ... a miserable person ... a selfsh pig ... a bum ... a sewage rat ... an ignorant monster ... a piece of s---.” Among the thoughts he shares are, “My baseline normal is to destroy myself. ... You could put me in any city in any country and I’d gravitate to the darkest cesspool. ... My social skills consisted of putting a guy in a coma. ... I had the biggest loser friends in the history of loser friends. ... I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to be with me. ... There’s no doubt that I have some self-hatred issues. ... Sometimes I don’t know if I was same time, he was using drugs ‘THEY WANTED even made for life.” and fnancing a crack enterprise Sloman put a lot of time and in Brownsville. ME TO BE A HERO, effort into Undisputed Truth. “Jimmy [Jacobs] and Bill The book is 580 pages long and [Cayton] were intent on stripping BUT I WANTED clearly the product of a huge away all the Brownsville from me TO BE A VILLAIN.’ amount of work. and giving me a positive image,” Tyson’s voice is nicely captured he says. “But I was a fake f---ing – MIKE TYSON in the early chapters. But about Uncle Tom nigga. I felt like a halfway through, there are trained monkey. I didn’t become places where the book begins to champ of the world to be a sound more like a collaborator submissive nice guy. They wanted piecing together newspaper me to be a hero, but I wanted to articles and other public sources

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 77 behind bars. degradation ofbeing compensated forthe prison termnever made afterhis The moneyTyson

THE RING MAGAZINE A WORTHWHILE LOOK AT MIKE TYSON

than Tyson himself. The narrative is remarkably compelling at times. But there are also a lot of nagging errors that fact checking should have discovered and corrected. For example, Big Fights Inc was created and, for decades, wholly owned by Bill Cayton, who hired Jimmy Jacobs as a salaried employee. The book misstates that the company was formed by both men. HBO commentator Barry Tompkins is referred to as “Barry Watkins.” Bobby Czyz did not “beat the s---” out of Holyfeld before Holyfeld stopped him in Round 10. In the real world, Evander was ahead in the fght when Czyz retired on his stool after fve rounds. More signifcantly, most of the mea culpas in Undisputed Truth relate to misdeeds that the world already knows about. There are some unexplored issues that Tyson doesn’t deal with. Over the years, Tyson has talked at length about having read Plato, Tolstoy, Shakespeare and others. Perhaps he should read Ovid, the Roman poet, who lived from 43 BC to 18 AD and wrote, “It is the privilege of beasts to rage about furiously. It is the duty of man to control himself.” Meanwhile, one of the saddest things about Tyson’s life is that all the craziness has obscured how good a fghter he was when he was young. Talking about “boxing gods” like Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis, Tyson declares, “I was never really one of those guys. I wish I was, but I wasn’t.” He could have been.

Thomas Hauser can be reached by email at [email protected]. His most recent book (Straight Writes and Jabs: An Inside Look at Another Year in Boxing) has just been published by the University of Arkansas Press.

11.13 / THE4.14 RING / RINGTV.COM MAGAZINE 79 ★ HAND TO HAND COMBAT NCAA BOXING IS LONG GONE BUT THE SPORT STILL THRIVES ★ IN THE SERVICE ACADEMIES By Bernard Fernandez

Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, upon other fields and other days, will bear the fruits of victory. — Gen. Douglas MacArthur

I have not yet begun to f ght. — John Paul Jones

en. MacArthur, former G superintendent of the United States Military Academy and supreme commander in the Pacif c theater during

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World War II, and Jones, the Revolutionary War hero who is widely regarded as the “father of the U.S. Navy,” surely would have understood what had just taken place in the Pennsylvania Convention Center on a chilly evening in mid-December. So did a more recent shining light of the American military, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, a veteran of seven deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Boxers representing West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy had hurled themselves at one another with typical tenacity during the nine-bout Army-Navy Boxing Classic in Philadelphia. Depending upon one’s point of view, Army had emerged victorious, winning four of the seven bouts televised by the CBS Sports Network, although ★ Navy coach Jim McNally and the Middies were claiming a 5-4 team triumph on the basis of two other matches that preceded the TV f ghts. Much to McNally’s indignation, color analyst Sean O’Grady, the former WBA lightweight champion, and West Point off cials opted to count only the televised bouts. As an enthusiastic, sellout crowd of about 1,500 spectators began to f le out, a man wearing a Naval Academy hoodie approached Sgt. 1st Class Petry with a request. “Please allow me the privilege of shaking the hand Clockwise from top left: Army’s of a Medal of Honor recipient,” Patrick Samuels (left) defeated said the guy in the hoodie, who Navy’s Kellen Lewis by a split then grasped the prosthesis that decision in the Army-Navy occupied the space where Petry’s Boxing Classic on Dec. 13 in Philadelphia; boxer Mateus right hand should have been. Arcano of Air Force confers with Petry’s arm had been blown off veteran coach Eddie Weichers; below the elbow by a Taliban Navy coach Jim McNally grenade he attempted to throw instructs Sean Hunt, who outpointed Army’s Shawn Gray; away after stepping protectively

NAVY PHOTOS: PATRICK MCNALLY; AIR FORCE PHOTO: SAM LEE, ROHMANN JOINT VENTURE ROHMANN JOINT SAM LEE, AIR FORCE PHOTO: MCNALLY; PATRICK PHOTOS: NAVY Army coach Ray Barone (left) in front of two other soldiers. tends to a boxer between rounds. It is that commitment to

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duty, honor, country, as much not preparing to do, and that’s as anything, that explains why to lay down their lives for their Army, Navy and the Air Force country if necessary. The defending-champion Army Academy have dominated the “The combatives and water- boxing team. National Collegiate Boxing survival classes are necessary Association, winning a combined because of what is required to go AMERICA’S 29 of 38 team titles since the out and lead troops in combat, NCBA was formed in 1976. Air and to make quick and good BEST Force, behind 38-year veteran decisions under pressure. Boxing The service academy boxing programs coach Eddie Weichers, leads the classes are not just designed to at Army, Navy and Air Force have been way with 19 of the big trophies; teach you how to box, but to help graced by many distinguished and Navy has won fve under 28- you, internally, to handle stress, accomplished Americans. Here are year coach Jim McNally; and fear and anxiety so that you’re just a few: defending champion Army has better able to not get yourself claimed fve – all since 2008 – or your wingman killed. That’s ARMY H under Dr. Ray Barone, a retired the mission and the purpose Bob Neyland, Class of 1916: West Point’s heavyweight boxing champion lieutenant colonel in his 16th year of the Air Force Academy, his fnal three years there. He is still as coach of the Black Knights. although Army and Navy have the winningest football coach at the West Point’s boxing focus had almost identical missions and University of Tennessee, where his teams been on its highly competitive goals. One’s primarily on land, posted a 173-31-12 record and 11 of his intramural program until its entry one’s primarily at sea and one’s players went on to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. He rose into the NCBA in 1998. primarily in the air.” to the rank of brigadier general. H Boyd The University of Nevada Barone said that the 60 to 80 Melson, Class of 2003: The three-time in Reno, with four, and West cadets who seek to refne their NCBA All-America won the 2004 World Chester (Pa.) University, with skills under him in any given year Military Boxing Championships. Now two, are the only other teams in never lose sight of what they’re a captain in the Army Reserve, he is a the now-33 school organization, there for. junior middleweight with a 13-1-1 record and four knockouts as a pro. spread over three regions, with “The academy certainly presents more than one title. those who are more interested in NAVY Unlike at other NCBA- boxing with that opportunity,” H Slade Cutter, Class of 1935: An affliated schools, boxing – which he said. “It’s a useful tool to help NCAA boxing champion, he won four has not been an NCAA sport prepare them to lead soldiers as Navy Crosses, two Silver Stars and a since 1960 – is a mandatory class offcers in the United States Army. Bronze Star during his illustrious naval career. H Tom Lynch, Class of 1964: required of all male students at Soldiers, like boxers, lead highly He went on to become an admiral and Army, Navy and Air Force, as disciplined lives. They’re on a later returned to the Naval Academy as well as of all female midshipmen schedule, they are very physically superintendent. He also was a center on at Navy. There is a reason for ft, and they train to be experts at the football team who snapped the ball that, and it carries potential life- what they do.” to Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback H and-death connotations. The service academies are Roger Staubach. Charles Bolden, Class of 1968: He boxed all four years at “The core courses here include unique because while they are Navy. He retired as a Marine Corps major combatives and aquatics,” noted prestigious academic institutions general, few on four Space Shuttles Weichers, a graduate of West – the 2014 edition of Best and is current head of the NASA space Chester whose stellar career at Colleges rates Navy at No. 14 program. the Air Force Academy has to among American universities, H date produced 316 NCBA All- while Army is 17th and Air AIR FORCE H Arnold Bunch, Class of 1984: Now a Americans and 111 individual Force 25th – there is a requisite major general, he was 1982 Wing Open national champions. “Cadets physical component that is not champion in the 156-pound weight class. are trained to fy, to fght and nearly so prevalent on other H Vince Becklund, Class of 1990: MIKE FIALA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES to win. We have an ethos that campuses. Which is not to say The three-time Wing Open champ in the resounds throughout the entire that every cadet or midshipman 185-pound weight class and NCBA titlist academy, as well as our sister who is required to take boxing is currently a colonel and commanding offcer of the 58th Special Operations services. These young people classes is naturally suited to Wing. He won a Bronze Star with three are preparing to do things that opening a can of whup-ass. oak leaf clusters. students at ‘civilian’ schools are “It has some validity,” McNally, — Bernard Fernandez

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a former NCBA semifnalist as More than 200 universities academies is heated, although at a welterweight at Lock Haven had NCAA boxing in the early a markedly different level than (Pa.) University, said when asked 1950s, and the dynastic program football. McNally, who notes if the Naval Academy’s express at Wisconsin, which won eight that he, Weichers and Barone purpose of developing fghting team titles from 1939 through are all faculty members in their men and women produces ’56, was so popular that a home respective schools’ departments optimal results in the ring. “But match against Michigan State of physical education, said he and there are plenty of students here on March 29, 1940, drew more his fellow boxing coaches enjoy who would not be disposed than 15,000 fans, easily topping the sort of job security their to becoming good boxers, the 11,620 who came out that football counterparts do not. regardless of the amount of same night to watch heavyweight “You have to understand that physical training they receive. champion Joe Louis defend his boxing here is not like football “Now, when most people title on a second-round stoppage or basketball,” McNally said. think of the Army, they of Johnny Paychek in Madison “These kids were not recruited to probably think of the infantry. Square Garden. be boxers. There’s no recruiting Here at the Naval Academy, But the end of NCAA boxing allowed by the NCBA in any case. members of the Brigade who are came in 1960, when Wisconsin A lot of our team members had most attracted to boxing tend middleweight Charlie Mohr never put on a boxing glove until to go into the Marine Corps was stopped in two rounds they got to the Naval Academy. or the SEALs. They have more by San Jose State’s Stu Bartell. “For the coaches in many of of what you might call that Mohr was hospitalized with a our sports, and most particularly ‘warrior mentality.’” massive subdural hematoma football, their job security Boxing has always played and he died eight days later. His depends on how they do against an integral role in the overall passing gave the NCAA, which Army. It’s the same at Army, development of cadets and had already been wavering in its maybe not so much at Air Force midshipmen, particularly at Army support of the sport, a reason because most of our sports (the U.S. Military Academy in to withdraw after that season. teams don’t compete against West Point, N.Y., was established Subsequent studies showed Air Force. But Army and Navy in 1802) and Navy (Annapolis, that an undiagnosed aneurism, are both in the Patriot League, Md., 1845), which far predate not boxing, might have caused except for football. The brass the 1954 founding of the Air Mohr’s death, but by then the keep a running total every year Force Academy in Colorado fght game’s separation from the of how Navy does against Army. Springs, Colo. When boxing NCAA had been fnalized. You can lose to them once, but was still an NCAA sport, Navy From 1960 until 1976, when if you lose two, three, four in a won six national championships the NCBA came into existence, row, you’re probably looking for under legendary coach Hamilton college boxing barely hung another job.” “Spike” Webb, who oversaw on, with a handful of schools As proof of McNally’s assertion, four U.S. Olympic boxing teams felding club teams coached within days of Navy’s 12th between 1920 and ’32, with more almost exclusively by unpaid straight conquest of the Army than a few Navy men dotting volunteers. Weichers, who went football team, a 34-7 rout the those rosters. Boxing became a to West Chester to play football, day after the Army-Navy Boxing part of the curriculum at Army gravitated to boxing through Classic, Army coach Rich Ellerson in 1905, under the directive of the infuence of two men, Al – 0-5 against the Midshipmen – H President Theodore Roosevelt, McChesney and Dean Plemmons, was fred. But even in presumably and its intercollegiate program, who started the university’s lower-profle sports like boxing, started in 1921 by coach Billy boxing team (the Golden Rams the competition is nothing short Cavanaugh, felded seven were NCBA team champs in of intense. undefeated squads over 28 years. 1979 and ’82) and later were “Why is Army-Navy so big, But Army and Navy hardly co-founders of the organization in everything?” Barone asked, stood alone as national powers that has kept college boxing rhetorically. “Why is Michigan- during a decades-long golden era alive and, all things considered, Ohio State? Or Yankees-Red of college boxing when many reasonably healthy. Sox? Army-Navy is big because, schools felded teams with large As might be expected, the well, it just is. It’s been inbred and enthusiastic followings. competition among the service in our culture, in our values, in

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 83 HAND TO HAND COMBAT H

that, but it’s very important to us that have been there. You want to uphold the honor of your branch of the service. “Look, you’re brothers in arms and all that good stuff every day of the year – except when you go against one another. We love each other, but it’s all about winning. It’s about pride. The way I look at it, boxing and the military have a lot in common. They kind of go together.” O’Grady, who did the commentary for those seven bouts at the Army-Navy Boxing Classic, knows where Mercer is coming from. He said he didn’t Army coach Ray Barone wraps the hands of boxer Gavin Chapman as assistant coach Steve Devot looks on. go to Philly “expecting to see the next Floyd Mayweather, but I did expect to see guts, our tradition.” tournament is scheduled for determination, Army strong and Weichers said that his team’s April 3-5 at West Point, with the Navy pride. I expected to see matches with Army and Navy host Black Knights seeking to our country’s future heroes, and come relatively early in the retain their team championship I did. I came away with restored boxing season, always the night and take the top prize for the faith in the youth of America.” before football games, thus sixth time in seven years. The cost of producing those limiting his options until he has The academies’ boxing coaches newly minted ensigns and a better feel for who his top guys are in agreement that their second lieutenants is high, and are. And that’s all right with him. function is not to produce getting higher. Weichers said “If we had something like the future professional boxers or that when he frst went to the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy even elite amateurs capable Air Force Academy in 1976, [which is awarded to the top of making an Olympic team, the price tag to taxpayers for academy football team each although all branches of the educating each cadet over four year] in boxing like we do in service have been or at least have years was $80,000. It’s now football, we’d have to put our a chance to be thus represented. up to $417,000, which must best fghters up against the best Ken Norton and Leon Spinks be multiplied by the more than from Army and Navy too soon, got their boxing starts in 12,000 attendees spread between before they’d probably be ready,” the Marines, two-time former the three academies. he said. “It’s not a true indicator IBF cruiserweight champion “Our country has invested so of team strength. Sometimes we Steve “USS” Cunningham in much into training these guys put our second- and third-line the Navy and 1988 Olympic to be pilots or navigators or guys up against their second- and heavyweight gold medalist Ray whatever,” he said. “They’re third-line guys, matching them Mercer in the Army. not here to go to the next level up according to size and ability. “Back then we – I mean the of boxing after college. They’re “We don’t want to have a Army – would go to the Armed here to serve in defense of the situation where the pressure Forces Championships and win, nation. If any of my guys is even to win these [inter-service] like, 11 of the 12 individual thinking of the Olympics or competitions is overwhelming. We fnals,” recalled Mercer, a two- something like that, I squash that don’t want to create that monster time titlist. “I’m not sure people idea pretty quick. I say, ‘When and make those matches more who have never been in the you’re done here, hang up the important than the nationals.” military understand when you gloves and go serve your country. The national NCBA talk about esprit de corps and all Oh, and I’m proud of you.’”

84 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 AL BELLO/ GETTY IMAGES Are lighter-weight fghters with impressive unbeaten streaks denied BEST OF the credit Rocky DOUGIE’S Marciano receives? MAILBAG

RINGTV.COM and former lightweight beltholder EDITOR’S POPULAR Paul Spadafora. (Proving that COLUMN MAKES “Rocky’s curse” remains strong after so many decades.) ITS DEBUT IN THE As far as I’m concerned, the RING MAGAZINE only time Marciano’s record needed to be brought up by fans By Doug Fischer or the media was when Larry Holmes was one victory away from equaling it (prior to losing a controversial decision to Michael Spinks in 1985). That’s JUAN VALVERDE, of Tijuana, because Holmes was the reigning Mexico, asked why the heavyweight champ at the time, boxing media fxates and Marciano’s 49-0 mark is a on former heavyweight HEAVYWEIGHT record. The champion Rocky Marciano’s reason boxing historians make a 49-0 record when longer big deal of it is because Marciano – and arguably more retired as the reigning heavy- impressive – unbeaten weight champ with that mark. It streaks have been achieved wasn’t the unbeaten streak alone by fghters in lighter weight that garnered attention. classes, such as former Many standouts of the lighter strawweight and junior weight classes have gone fyweight titleholder Ricardo unbeaten in more than 49 pro Lopez’s 50-0-1 mark. bouts, such as “Finito” Lopez, as you mentioned. Former bantamweight and DOUGIE’S reply: Marciano’s featherweight champ Eder Jofre mark has become a marketing was unbeaten in his frst 50 pro tool for any modern fghter who bouts (47-0-3). The masterful gets close to winning 49 bouts Brazilian fnished his career with without a loss. Fans had to hear an excellent 72-2-4 (50 KOs) about it when good fghters, such record. Former bantamweight as the late Johnny Tapia, got close champ Carlos Zarate won his to the mark and when forgettable frst 52 pro bouts – all but one by fghters, like Danish heavyweight knockout! Zarate’s fellow Mex- Brian Nielsen, were just one bout ican legend Ruben Olivares was away from surpassing it. unbeaten in his frst 61 bouts (60- Recently Marciano’s “49-0” was 0-1, with 55 knockouts). He won brought up prior to upset losses the bantamweight championship suffered by long-reigning feath- in his 53rd consecutive victory. erweight titleholder Chris John Willie Pep won his frst 62

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bouts, picking up the featherweight championship along the way (in his 54th bout at age 20). Former middleweight champ Nino Benvenuti won his frst 65 pro bouts (and reportedly compiled a 120-0 amateur record on his way to a gold medal in the 1960 Olym- pic Games in Rome). And, due to the quality of his opposition and his longevity, Julio Cesar Chavez’s marks of 87-0 and 89-0-1 (his record prior to his frst loss) are arguably more impressive than Marciano’s 49-0, in my opinion.

REHAN, of London, asked where recent International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Mike Tyson ranks among Fischer’s all-time Top 10 heavyweights.

DOUGIE’S reply: Tyson doesn’t make my all-time heavyweight Top 10. My Top 10 is as follows:

1. Muhammad Ali 2. Joe Louis 3. Jack Johnson 4. Larry Holmes 5. Rocky Marciano 6. George Foreman 7. Joe Walcott 8. Ezzard Charles 9. Joe Frazier 10. Evander Holyfeld

That doesn’t mean I think Tyson sucks. He was awesome. A lot of excellent former heavyweight champs don’t make my Top 10, including Gene Tunney, Jack Dempsey, Max Baer, Sonny Liston, Ken Norton and Lennox Lewis.

88 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 VINCE wanted to get Mike Tyson (pictured Fischer’s thoughts on an all- moments after Japanese junior lightweight putting Tervor Berbick down in matchup – between WBA 1986) didn’t crack titleholder Takashi Uchiyama Doug Fischer’s Top and WBC beltholder Takashi 10 heavyweights. Miura – that has been talked about this year; as well as a potential RING Magazine championship match between No. 1-rated Uchiyama and No. 2-rated WBO 130-pound king Mikey Garcia. Vince was also curious about Fischer’s thoughts on a fyweight showdown between Roman Gonzalez and Kazuto Ioka.

DOUGIE’S reply: Gonzalez-Ioka is a dream fght for me. I would favor “Chocolatito” by late TKO. All I know is that if the fght ever happens, the winner better get rated in the pound-for-pound Top 10 of every boxing publication and fght nerd. The Uchiyama-Garcia fght would be a diffcult task for both junior lightweight beltholders. I would slightly favor Uchiyama to win by decision if the fght were to take place this year. He’s the more seasoned fghter and the more proven at 130 pounds. He won his WBA title from an unbeaten contender (Juan Carlos Salgado) and he has made eight title defenses against solid opposition (including current titleholder Miura, skilled veteran Jorge Solis and then-unbeaten contender Bryan Vasquez, all of whom he stopped). I think Uchiyama’s experience, talent and style would present problems for Mikey. The unbeaten Japanese vet wouldn’t play into Garcia’s heavy counterpunching hands because he prefers to oper-

THE RING MAGAZINE ate from a distance, where he’s ac-

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curate with his powerful left hand (which he can deliver from odd angles). He doesn’t press his opponents. He’s got a sneaky aggression from arms’ length, but he’s a decent body-puncher and counterpuncher when in the pocket. The last time Garcia faced a southpaw as fast, athletic and hard punching as Uchiyama was when he fought Cornelius Lock as a prospect back in 2010. Although Mikey scored an 11th-round TKO, he did not have an easy time in that fght. Uchiyama-Miura should be an excellent rematch and 130-pound title unifcation bout (and I hope it happens this year). Uchiyama had to get up from the canvas to score a hard-fought eighth-round TKO in their frst bout, and he’ll probably have to do so again in the rematch. Miura will give any 130- or 135-pound fghter hell. That guy’s got balls the size of Tokyo. His unanimous decision over Sergio Thompson last year was an overlooked Fight of the Year candidate.

ROB, of Longwood, Fla., wondered if formidable fghters from Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine – such as Sergey Kovalev, Gennady Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko – will one day unseat the U.S. stars who usually occupy the top of the pound-for-pound rankings and “if America’s traditional boxing supremacy is bound to crumble or take a back seat to foreign beasts like the ones mentioned.”

90 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 standouts, such as Guillermo DOUGIE’S reply: I don’t think Rigondeaux, Erislandy Lara and America’s presence among Golovkin – have come to the U.S. elite boxers will ever “crumble,” and have improved upon their but I do believe that U.S. professional styles by hooking f ghters will have to get used to up with noted American trainers. sharing the pound-for-pound And 2. More are f ghting on U.S. rankings with f ghters from all television, thereby becoming bet- around the globe, and they’ll also ter known to the boxing media have to be ready for stern head- and fans who compile pound-for- to-head challenges from foreign pound lists. boxers within their respective I could be wrong, but I don’t weight classes. think my man “GGG” would be I wouldn’t be shocked if cracking the mythical rankings if non-American boxers occupied he wasn’t f ghting on HBO and in the pound-for-pound Top 3 – cur- the U.S. If Golovkin were f ghting rently held by Floyd Mayweather the same level of opposition in Jr., Andre Ward and Tim Bradley Germany, off HBO, I think he’d – by the end of 2015. still be under the radar, like my Pound-for-pound rankings little brother from another moth- dominated by non-American er, Roman Gonzalez. boxers is nothing new. At the Trust me, if HBO or Showtime end of 2010, only two American featured “Chocolatito” against a boxers – No. 2 Mayweather and top-rated f yweight, you would No. 9 Bradley – were among THE suddenly see his name pop up on RING’s Pound for Pound Top 10. a lot of people’s P4P lists. Everyone else on the list – Man- Anyway, don’t count Ameri- ny Pacquiao, Sergio Martinez, can f ghters out. Ward is poised Juan Manuel Marquez, Nonito to take over Mayweather’s No. Donaire, Pongsaklek Wonjong- 1 spot whenever Floyd f nally kam, Fernando Montiel, Wladi- walks away from the sport, and mir Klitschko and Juan Manuel there isn’t anyone out there who Lopez – was born outside of the I would make a solid favorite to continental U.S. beat the Bay Area boxing master. At the end of 2008, the year of And there are some young guns Mayweather’s hiatus from the out there, such as Danny Garcia, sport, only ONE American was in who look ready to break into the THE RING’s mythical rankings mythical rankings soon. – No. 4 Bernard Hopkins, who However, as good as he is, Ward was behind Pacquiao, Marquez is just one boxer – and a single and Joe Calzaghe. All of the other punch from Golovkin, Adonis pound-for-pound f ghters at that Stevenson or Kovalev could end time were either born in Mexico his decade-long unbeaten streak. or Puerto Rico. And though Garcia always f nds a Right now we’ve got a bunch of way to win, I’m not sure I’d pick talented and determined f ghters him to beat Ruslan Provodnikov. Fischer believes American boxers must from South America, Cuba, East- Just 20 years ago it was in- get used to sharing ern Europe and Central Asia who conceivable that anyone but pound-for-pound status are in the elite mix. Americans could dominate the with f ghters from These areas of the world have heavyweight division. European around the world. Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine always produced talented f ghters, heavyweights were the biggest (pictured) could get but we’re seeing more of them in jokes in boxing. Now American there one day. the rankings for two reasons: 1. heavyweights are the joke. Things

SANTA CRUZ/ROSADO: JEFF BOTTARI/GOLDEN BOY/GOLDEN BOY VIA GETTY IMAGES; GARCIA: DAVID BECKER/GETTY DAVID VIA GETTY IMAGES; GARCIA: BOY BOY/GOLDEN JEFF BOTTARI/GOLDEN CRUZ/ROSADO: SANTA ETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAGES IMAGES; LOMACHENKO: Many – especially the amateur change.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 91 LETTERS FROM EUROPE A LIFE TRANSFORMED NEW IBF BANTAMWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER STUART HALL CREDITS BOXING FOR SAVING HIM FROM HIS SELF-DESTRUCTIVE LIFESTYLE

By Gareth A Davies

There is a triumph to the bully. Honest to God, I was not tale of Stuey Hall. His victory a very nice person. When I was over Vusi Malinga to claim in my teens I used to enjoy going the IBF bantamweight crown out with the lads and just … late last year had a resonance well … practically spoiling other which is being felt both in his peoples’ nights out. community and in the wider area “When I look back I just of the North West of England. A cringe at that, and the way I was. testament to a life transformed I couldn’t be any different to the by the decision to make a person I am now.” difference, to himself and others, At his worst, Hall had reached through the discipline of boxing. 154 pounds in weight and was His was once a life fueled by drinking eight cans of lager in binging in the clubbing island of the morning. He was in a cycle Ibiza, in the Balearic Islands off of despair and despondency. Spain. Cheap rent, cheap booze, Then one day he realized he cheap thrills. was wasting his life. “I had spots “I come from a dead all over my face, and I thought rough estate, Skerne Park, in ‘I’m sick of this life now,’” Darlington. I’m from there. I got he said. “I think that was the in with the wrong crowd. I went turning point. I went back down down the wrong path, doing the to the gym, and I trained, and wrong things,” he said. I got a bit of weight off. I just He’s 34 now. But the road to started feeling good again.” U.K. TOP 10 ruin was in front of him just Years earlier, he had dabbled 1. CARL FROCH a few years ago. “Ibiza was with amateur boxing. It was “a 2. AMIR KHAN brilliant. … I enjoyed every chore,” he said, but “it kept me 3. KELL BROOK minute of Ibiza. I wouldn’t lie off the streets.” 4. CARL FRAMPTON about it,” he said. “But after f ve “I stuck at it in those 5. RICKY BURNS years in Ibiza I was just killing days,” he said. “I got to an 6. GEORGE GROVES myself, and obviously when I got [England] Amateur Boxing back from Ibiza, I was still doing Association final, and I knew 7. TYSON FURY things wrong: drinking alcohol back then that if I really stuck 8. SCOTT QUIGG every day, eating bad food …” at it, I could get somewhere.” 9. MARTIN MURRAY What makes a man Hall was 28 when he joined 10. NATHAN CLEVERLY plumb the depths, with no the pro ranks. “It was late but Five more (in alphabetical hope, no horizon? I didn’t feel like that,” he said. order): Paul Butler, James “It all goes back to when “I just thought, I don’t want to DeGale, Stuart Hall, Matthew I was at junior school and be one of these men who used Macklin and Billy Joe Saunders. comprehensive school,” he said. to box, who’d end up saying, ‘I Through f ghts of Jan. 19 “I was a [jerk]. I was a bit of a could have done that. … I could

929292 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 SCOTT HEAVEY/GETTY IMAGES new man. looks thepartofa titleholder StuartHall IBF bantamweight 4.14 / RINGTV.COM 9393 LETTERS FROM EUROPE

have been a contender.’ I didn’t Hall is looking to f ght again title, second only to Joe Louis’ want to be one of those men in a at the end of March. “I want 25. “Matter of fact I texted him pub saying that. to f ght in the North East, in the other day, told him to work “Those bad days are in the the Newcastle area, so f ngers hard, and don’t kill himself to get past, and when I think about crossed we can get that sorted there too quickly. He can be the it, I’ve totally changed my life and get a voluntary defense, champion of the world. I did not around, and really everyone in which would be fantastic.” say that to make him feel good. my town now praises me.” After that, he’d like to He has all the physical qualities. He went on: “‘It’s crazy how face Jamie McDonnell again. It’s true. He can be the champ.” someone can go from that to McDonnell won the IBF title Holmes warned about burnout what you are now.’ That’s what in May of last year but was if Joshua f ghts too often. “Let his people say to me in the street. stripped. Hall lost to McDonnell body heal, let his mind heal,” he I’m so thankful to boxing, I’m so in a title f ght – British, European said. “There are a lot of f ghters grateful to the sport. and Commonwealth – on points that get hurt because they f ght “You get world champions in 2011. It was close, too. and then have another f ght and that are big-headed. They’re not “I’ve always wanted that never get a chance to rest. I would really thankful for the sport; f ght,” Hall said. “He’s the one say preserve all of that like I did. they’re just using it. I couldn’t that didn’t want it. He won I had 38 years of boxing when I be any happier. If I had to retire the world title. That’s the f ght f nished boxing. now, I’d be a very, very happy I want. I want to put things “I didn’t rush back into another person. I’m so over the moon straight, win a voluntary, f ght f ght, I waited two or three with what I’ve done.” McDonnell, and then probably months before I got into another That night against Malinga, retire – happy as Larry.” f ght. This is what you’ve got to in Leeds, punches just bounced do, let that body heal and let that off Hall, a man possessed, and LARRY HOLMES mind heal and don’t take any in control of all his faculties. He ON ANTHONY shots to the side of the head. simply refused to be denied. JOSHUA “He’s got to take his time and Offers have come f ooding in ★ Larry Holmes, the former learn it hard and real. The guy’s for Hall to visit schools in his heavyweight world champion got all the potential, and there’s area, to talk to the children, and one of boxing’s legends, is nobody out there.” to tell his story. “I’m looking in regular contact with f edgling forward to doing it, and if I can British professional Anthony FURY- help anyone, that’d be brilliant.” Joshua, advising him to work CHISORA II? We talked a little while about hard and not rush his career. ★ Frank Warren hopes he the boxing movies Fat City, and The American, who held the can match European On the Waterfront. “I think I world title between 1978 and heavyweight champion Dereck will end up writing a book about 1985, is convinced the 24-year- Chisora and Tyson Fury in a my life one day. I’ve come such a old “can become the champ of rematch this summer. long way,” he said. the world.” Warren insisted he had “I’m world champion now, and Holmes watched Joshua signed a “lengthy deal” with it’s the biggest thing you can get at the Olympic Games in Fury for him to f ght on the in boxing. I’ve won the British London, where the huge athlete BoxNation channel, with title, and now I need to start impressed him in winning the the Fury-Chisora matchup thinking of my family. I’ve got a super heavyweight gold. Joshua potentially a title eliminator for business head on me if I can get impressed the ex-champ again the WBO world crown. a few quid in the bank, I know I with his third pro f ght. However, Mick Hennessy, can turn it around. I would love Holmes, 64, is not so impressed Fury’s current promoter, said

to get a little run-down property with the overall state of the that the deal, which he claimed CHRISTOPHER LEE/GETTY IMAGES and do it up and sell it.” division, however. would be “for three f ghts,” was “I’d love to do that after “I’m not happy with what I see. yet to be inked. boxing, I’d love to get into That’s why I told Anthony Joshua “I’ve been promoting a long property development. I’m a that he could be heavyweight time, and this is a huge f ght. positive thinker. I used to be a champion of the world,” This is a stadium f ght,” Warren roofer. But I really did used to said Holmes, who made 20 said. “But neither of them can enjoy it; I didn’t mind the cold.” consecutive defenses of the world afford to lose before then. Great

949494 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 this – which is nowhere near the amount I should demand – that it’s the fght I want, not the money,” he said. “I want to be world champion, and commercially it’s a huge fght. It’s a pay-per-view fght in the U.K., and could be one of the biggest of all time. I’m just waiting for a short while, because his hand will need to be forced, because he’s gone silent. Not a peep out of him.” In the meantime, Groves says he has also had offers from America. He has spoken with Golden Boy Promotions, Al Haymon and Lou DiBella. “I’ve been offered a few shots at various different titles in America,” he said. “I’m realistic, though. I know I’m a pay-per- view fighter, but only in the right fights.” It appears that the IBF has forced Froch’s hand. The sanctioning body announced Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury, pictured in their frst meeting, could fght again shortly before our deadline this summer. that Froch must give Groves a rematch within 90 days or be stripped of his belt, which is the plans can easily be upset.” and talk his way out of a rematch news Groves wanted to hear. Fury defeated Chisora on with me, and he’s said he needs That didn’t necessarily mean points in July 2011 to take his some time over Christmas to not the fght was on, though. Froch British and Commonwealth belts think about boxing.” had the option of giving up and his perfect record. That Groves believes Froch is his title and facing Julio Cesar said, Chisora was overweight for stalling. “In the meantime, he Chavez Jr. in a lucrative bout in that fght. He has transformed says he doesn’t want to give me the U.S. Representatives of Froch himself both mentally and a payday,” Groves said. “So it’s and Chavez had been in talks. physically since then. a strange situation. He’s running out of excuses very quickly.” DARREN BARKER GROVES-FROCH Then Groves went further. H Finally, as suggested in last H George Groves has expressed “He has zero options. There are month’s Letters From Europe his frustration at what he sees no fghts out there for him apart column, it looked as if Darren as Carl Froch’s refusal to take from a rematch with me, because Barker would retire after his a rematch with him after their he’s not going to get any public defeat to Felix Sturm. Nothing contest last November, which backing if he fghts anyone else, to do with his heart, or desire. the younger man believes was and he isn’t going to get any Just his body. And in particular prematurely stopped in the television network backing either, his hips. Respect to a great ninth round. so the fght that everyone wants servant of British boxing. “I’ve spoke with Froch’s is the rematch.” Cheers. promoter, I’ve put offers back to Groves insisted that the money them,” Groves told me. “… I’m is not an issue for him. “You Gareth A Davies is Boxing just waiting on Carl Froch. He’s can tell from the amount of Correspondent for The used every excuse so far to try money I’ve agreed to take from Telegraph, London.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 95 SWEET SCIENCE

Oscar De La Hoya knows how much a shot to the liver hurts, courtesy of CHOPPED Bernard Hopkins.

LIVER top the list of popular pugilistic sugar levels to neutralizing punches, they are not the only toxins and fghting off BOXERS WILL TELL means to vanquish an opponent infections. At any moment, YOU THAT A PERFECTLY with a single, connecting swing roughly 10 percent of the blood TARGETED SHOT TO of the fst. A hard punch to the in your body is passing through liver can be just as effective and your liver, which pumps it out at THIS VITAL ORGAN CAN equally dramatic. a rate of 1½ quarts per minute. BE DEBILITATING With the exception of your So important is the liver that it heart, one could argue that is the only human organ capable By Scott LaFee no organ below your neck is of regenerating itself. more important to your general Over the course of evolution, physical well-being than your its workload increasing, the n boxing, no liver. Located in the upper right- human liver has grown in size. punch is more hand portion of the abdominal One consequence is that it is I dramatic or cavity, beneath the diaphragm now more vulnerable to injury. crowd-pleasing and atop the stomach, right Boxing rules prohibit punches than a body- kidney and intestines, the liver to the kidneys, which serve as

dropping blow is the largest internal and most critical blood flters, but the JED JACOBSOHN/GETTY IMAGES to the head – a concussive metabolically complex organ in kidneys are located at the rear impact so devastating that it your body. of the abdominal cavity and renders the recipient suddenly It performs more than 500 protected by the ribs and thick senseless and soon supine – the different functions, from sheathes of stomach and back classic knockout. manufacturing proteins and muscle. The liver, conversely, But while head shots probably hormones to controlling blood pokes out from below the rib

96 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 cage – a dangling, 3-pound-plus deliver more blood to needy blob of soft tissue easily exposed muscles, the heart rate increases to an accurately aimed left to to compensate and maintain a that part of the body. constant blood pressure. When An effective liver shot can the frst happens but not the end a fght almost as quickly second, the brain interprets the as a similar blow to the head. effect as a threatening decrease The latter can disrupt cognitive in its own blood supply. It processes, but doesn’t necessarily responds by constricting blood hurt (at that moment at least) vessels within itself, further and it may take some time reducing blood fow. before the brain and the boxer Loss of consciousness is a fgure out they’ve been damaged. potential result, but more often The effects of a hard shot to boxers report a loss of focus the liver are more quickly felt. and drive. Legs get wobbly and First, there is almost immediate, unresponsive. Not just their perhaps overwhelming pain. wind, but their will to win, has Fighters describe the sensation been knocked out of them. as akin to having the wind To be sure, this kind of knocked out of them. devastating liver shot is not But that’s not the worst of it. common. Good boxers are well- The human liver is extremely versed in how to avoid leaving well-innervated, richly woven the organ open to injury. They and encapsulated with nerves keep their arms and elbows necessary to performing its in, protectively, and roll with known functions, which punches, transferring most of the include monitoring and helping impact to the back. regulate blood temperature, But the liver shot remains pressure, nutrient content and an occasionally annihilative general homeostasis or internal weapon. equilibrium. This includes Middleweight champ Bernard connections with the vagus Hopkins beat Oscar De La Hoya nerve, a primary pathway for in a 2009 title fght after landing transmitting sensory information a powerful punch to De La from the viscera (internal Hoya’s ribs and liver, followed organs) to the brain. by a blow to the back of his A punch to the liver triggers head. De la Hoya grimaced, a cascade of potentially collapsed and was counted out. calamitous consequences. The And it was a second round blow itself distorts the organ, shot to Leonard Dorrin’s liver by compressing it on one side, Arturo Gatti in a 2004 bout that distending it on the other. immediately dropped the former Beyond any physical tissue – his frst pro loss and fnal fght. damage, the resulting dynamic “Kill the body and the head change in pressure initiates will follow” is an old trainer’s an abnormal and alarming credo. There are many ways to sequence of nerve signals: do this, from punches to the The liver tells blood vessels solar plexus – the pit of the throughout the body – but not stomach and home to its own set the brain – to dilate or widen of radiating nerves – to repeated while at the same time ordering pounding of the ribs. the heart rate to slow down. But a liver shot may be the Ordinarily, if blood vessels quickest way to get a head to dilate, which they might do to follow.

3.14 / RINGTV.COM 97 NEW FACES JULIAN WILLIAMS By Mike Coppiner

THE ESSENTIALS Age: 23 Weight class: Junior middleweight Height: 5 feet 10 inches Stance: Orthodox Hometown: Philadelphia Record: 14-0 (8 KOs) Biggest strengths: Has a good chin H is a versatile boxer H is an excellent counterpuncher Biggest question marks: Sometimes too willing to trade punches H has a history of hand injuries H gets impatient

No one would have blamed Julian Williams if he pulled out of his fght with Hugo Centeno on Sept. 12. But there he was on the day his mother died – a week after he signed the contract for biggest win of his career. decision. In December, he stopped the bout -- at his trainer Stephen In the process, he’s Lora in Round 3. Edwards’ home. established himself as one of Williams has yet to go the Williams asked Edwards the top prospects in a junior 10-round distance, but he’s an whether he should do his middleweight division loaded advanced prospect and is on the roadwork before or after he with promising fghters. cusp of making the leap. Edwards went to the funeral home for “It was extremely frustrating believes Williams will graduate to a viewing. Naturally, Edwards because I put so much into that contender status after a respected told him to take the day off and fght,“ said Williams, who is veteran accepts a fght with his suggested he might skip the bout managed by Al Haymon. “ … I charge, which he believes could under the circumstances. trained for that fght planning come in late 2014 or 2015. The Julian wanted to fght. funerals and just mourning my plan is for Williams to fght six At 5 a.m. the next day, Williams mother’s death, and it was just times in 2014 and enter 2015 was at the track and back to a rough time for me and family, with a 20-0 record. work, running with tears in his but I still decided to go through “I think what’s going to make eyes. Edwards was confdent then with the fght. … Man, I could him one of the guys to look at that Williams would perform well have ripped that kid’s head off is people will notice he can win even with a heavy heart. in there that night. I was just the fght a lot of different ways,” Williams didn’t emerge extremely mad.” said Edwards, who has trained victorious, as the Sept. 2013 “J Rock” sandwiched the Williams at James Shuler’s fght was stopped on cuts – the Centeno bout between quality Memorial Gym in Philadelphia result of an accidental head butt wins over veterans Joachim Alcine for four-plus years. “He can -- before it became offcial, but he and Orlando Lora. Williams outbox guys, he can fght on the was leading on all three cards and dropped Alcine three times en inside, he can fght on the outside. seemed well on his way to the route to a one-sided eight-round He can get into a frefght. He

98 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 3 MORE TO WATCH

ARTUR BETERBIEV, LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (4-0, 4 KOS) The 28-year-old Russian- Canadian is a devastating puncher with a deep amateur background. He represented Russia at the last two Olympic Games and won the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships. He’s trained by Marc Ramsay and Russ Anber. CHRIS EUBANK JR.,

Julian Williams (left, against Orlando Lora) has demonstrated the work ethic MIDDLEWEIGHT trainers love. (12-0, 7 KOS) The son of a British boxing understands that it’s professional the middleweight division,” legend, Eubank Jr. has fghting so he has to be exciting Williams said. “Bernard impressed in his short time and win at the same time.” Hopkins, Benny Briscoe, fghting as a pro. The 24-year- Williams grew up in West Philly [Eugene] Cyclone Hart, Bobby old followed in his father’s in a single-parent home with two ‘Boogaloo’ Watts. Those guys footsteps by training in New brothers and one sister. His father were great Philadelphia fghters. York an amateur. He split from came into his life at age 12, and “It just makes me want to go promoter Mick Hennessy in late he has since forged a deep bond the extra mile because you go 2013 and is trained by Ronnie with his dad. into a fght in Philadelphia, there’s Davis Sr., who guided his dad. He’s also close with Edwards, a certain assumption that you whom he met at the trainer’s gotta fght with determination, fght party to watch the Floyd you gotta fght with a lot of OSCAR VALDEZ, Mayweather Jr.-Ricky Hatton heart. I just wanna keep this FEATHERWEIGHT fght in 2007. They live about 10 thing going and add on, so when minutes from one another, which they mention those guys’ names, (8-0, 8 KOS) makes training and watching they’ll mention my name.” Valdez represented Mexico at countless hours of fght footage Williams has already proven the Olympics in 2008 and 2012 a bit easier. And the pair is he has the determination and before turning pro under the Philadelphia to the core. heart. That ability to overcome guidance of Frank Espinoza. “You got so many great adversity will serve him well in He’s promoted by Top Rank and fghters that come from his quest to etch his name in is one of the brightest young Philadelphia, especially around Philadelphia boxing history. prospects in the sport.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 99 WOMEN’S BOXING

Jelena Mrdjenovich (left, against Franchesca Alcanter) doesn’t brag about her power. Others do it for her.

It takes a lot to get a Hall of Famer to turn his head, but Jeff TURNING Fenech was impressed by Jelena Mrdjenovich when the two met up at the WBC convention in Thailand last November. HEADS “Somehow I conned him into working pads for me because JELENA MRDJENOVICH, 31, I was getting ready for a fght on Dec. 6,” said a smiling CONTINUES TO IMPRESS WITH Mrdjenovich, the current WBC MEMORABLE KNOCKOUTS featherweight champion. “He By Thomas Gerbasi said, ‘You know, you actually hit

100100100 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 hard; not just for a girl, but for a boxer with all this bravado, guy your weight, too.’” though. I do this because I love it, And Fenech didn’t stop there. and I’m fortunate that I happen POUND Once Mrdjenovich showed to be good at it.” Fenech the ending of her 2011 Now in her 11th year as a pro, FOR POUND win over Olivia Gerula, a Mrdjenovich, 31, has picked knockout that landed in the No. up titles at 126, 130, and 135 4 spot on THE RING’s recent list pounds over the course of her 1. CECILIA BRAEKHUS, Norway of the greatest KOs in women’s career, with notable wins over 23-0 (7 KOs) boxing history, he made it a point Layla McCarter, Mia St. John and Welterweight to let everyone know about his Belinda Laracuente. new “discovery.” Many wrote her off as a top- 2. ANNE SOPHIE MATHIS, “He proceeded to show level fghter after she lost fve of France everybody at the conference,” six bouts from 2009 to 2011. But 27-3 (23 KOs) Mrdjenovich said. “I actually got she found her mojo once more, Junior middleweight a message from one of his friends winning seven of her last eight that Jeff was at dinner with two bouts. Most impressive in this 3. JELENA MRDJENOVICH, other former world champions, stretch was her frst win in three Canada and he was showing the video. tries against Melissa Hernandez, He said, ‘I don’t know how many a thrilling six-round technical 31-9-1 (16 KOS) times he’s shown that knockout.’” decision in THE RING’s female Featherweight Mrdjenovich laughs about it, Fight of the Year for 2013. but it’s also a source of pride It was one of Mrdjenovich’s 29 4. AVA KNIGHT, U.S. for the soft-spoken Canadian, bouts at the Shaw Conference 12-2-3 (5 KOs) who obviously carries a big stick Centre in Edmonton, where Junior fyweight in the ring, with 16 of her 31 she packs the house for fghts wins coming by knockout. That that are also broadcast on the 5. YESICA YOLANDA BOPP, fgure isn’t Tyson-esque but is Sportsnet channel in Canada. Argentina impressive because you generally Clearly, she is as legitimate as 26-1 (12 KOs), don’t see knockouts in women’s one of the boys when it comes Junior fyweight boxing the way Mrdjenovich to her popularity, an emphatic consistently puts them together. statement to those who say 6. ERICA ANABELLA FARIAS, “People do think with women female fghters can’t sell tickets. Argentina it’s just a powder puff type thing,” “They like entertaining 18-0 (9 KOs) said the Edmonton product, fghters,” Mrdjenovich said of Lightweight who is the only fghter with two Canadian fans. “It’s almost like entries on the aforementioned they like the Mexican style of 7. JESSICA CHAVEZ, Mexico greatest KOs list. And while she fghters: They get in there, they 19-3-3 (4 KOs) appreciates the fact her KOs get dirty, they get the job done, Junior fyweight of Gerula (which has garnered and it’s action packed. Given my over 230,000 views when you stats, I’d probably be a better 8. MELISSA HERNANDEZ, U.S. count up all the different versions boxer than a fghter, but I get 18-5-3 (6 KOs) on YouTube) and Franchesca bored during fghts, so I get into Alcanter in 2005 made the cut, wars. I get into huge fghts with Featherweight she insists her knockout of my coach in the corner. (Laughs.) Alcanter in their 2006 rematch But I love those fghts. I’m a fan 9. DIANA PRAZAK, Australia (which wasn’t recorded on video) as well as a fghter, so I think the 12-2 (8 KOs) was even more spectacular. reason I’ve been so successful Junior lightweight That’s scary, especially from here is because I put it all out in a fghter as modest about her the ring. I don’t leave anything 10. MARCELA ELIANA ACUNA, power as Mrdjenovich. back and I fght to the fnish.” Argentina “Sometimes I swear I barely hit A host of Mrdjenovich’s 40-6-1 (17 KOs) them,” she said. “But then you’re knockout victims will Junior featherweight like, ‘maybe I do kind of hit hard certainly attest to that fact. sometimes.’ I’m not the typical As will Jeff Fenech. Through fghts of Jan. 19

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 101 RINGSIDE REPORTS BY NORM FRAUENHEIM

STUART HALL Stuart Hall (fring a left at Vusi Malinga) is one of the more unlikely world titleholders. UD 12 VUSI MALINGA Date: Dec. 21 Somewhere was a return from nearly fve to regain some world-class credibility after a Site: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England years on the Spanish isle of Ibiza, a Euro loss to Leo Santa Cruz last year. Division: Bantamweight party zone where roadwork is a pub crawl. But everything about Hall has been Weights: Hall 117.25 pounds; After long nights and wasted days on an unlikely. He’s fooled the odds. Knocked out Malinga 117.5 island surrounded by the Mediterranean and the assumptions. He swarmed Malinga (21- RING rating (going into the fght): awash in booze, Hall returned in late 2004 5-1, 12 KOs), rocking him in the second and Neither fghter rated to England and eventually the ring. He was fooring him in the third with a right en route Network: Box Nation, LiveSport 28 and looked to be several pints beyond to a 117-110, 117-110 and 116-111 victory his prime. He had boxed as an amateur. The on the scorecards. Hall, who had former H Last call produces more hangovers gym beckoned. cruiserweight champ Glenn McCrory in his than titles. For nearly fve years, Stuart Within the ropes, there was a chance at corner, seized the momentum. Hall was there for a late round in one long rehab. Before long, it turned into a career But Malinga, a nephew of ex-super bout against alcohol and drugs with no and an improbable bantamweight title in an middleweight champ Sugar Boy Malinga, reasonable expectation of ever answering upset of South African Vusi Malinga for the rallied in the middle rounds, including a another opening bell. Waking up at all was International Boxing Federation’s version of stinging right that produced a nasty welt tough enough. the 118-pound crown. below Hall’s left eye. By the ninth, swelling But Hall did. Hall (16-2-1, 7KOs) entered the bout an began to close the wounded eye. But Hall’s “I just looked at myself in the mirror and unlikely contender. He was 33. He had lost focus on the immediate task remained clear. said: ‘I can’t keep doing this, I’ll end up to ex-IBF champion Jamie McDonnell in a “I couldn’t see anything out of my left dead,’” Hall told U.K. media. “I was drinking 2011 bid for a U.K. title. He also lost in 2012 eye for the fnal few rounds, but I kept my and taking drugs every single day and to fellow Brit Lee Haskins. Hall appeared to focus, and I always knew I was in front,” he eating the wrong foods. I was on the road be a very good story, but a local one. For the told ringside reporters. to nowhere.” favored Malinga, the fght was an opportunity And beyond a losing lifestyle.•

102102102 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 PASCAL: MIKE GREENHILL Pre-fght talkwasaboutlossesandinjuries. tostayincontention. desperately battling theBellCentreforfghters20,479 wasat inNorth fght towns America, of asacrowd foroneofthebest was anothervictory for theemptyechoes. ButinMontreal, it decision overLucianBute. that’s inPascal’s happened what one-sided its bestwhenneighborhoodscollide, and theminthespitbucket.Leave Boxingisat rivalry, comparisonsaren’tnecessary. tobe.it didn’thave When it’s ahometown the StanleyCupofCanadianBoxing. But Canadian boxing. Itwasn’t. Itwasn’teven H Network: No. 10;ButeNo. supermiddleweight 3at RING rating(goingintothefght): Weights: Division: Site: Date: LUCIAN BUTE UD 12 JEAN PASCAL Put Pascal-Bute in Atlantic Cityandlisten Jean Pascal of promisedtheSuperBowl Canadian battle. Bute inanall- outclassed Lucian Jean Pascal(left) BellCentre, Montreal Jan. 18 Lightheavyweight Pascal 175pounds;Bute173.6 HBO

Pascal habit against Bute,habit against becauseof perhaps of anearlystoppage. Buthebrokethe years. many Haitian whohasbeenlivinginQuebecfor had oftenbeenaproblemforPascal, a ringside media. man intown,” Pascal toldmembersofthe an opening. there, insuddenbursts, whenhedetected measured, opportunisticway. Itwas ina heoftenemployed that athleticism rights. bragging drama ofseeingwhowouldwinacity’s caughtupinthein theroarfromacrowd But foronenight, therewerenoquestions whether there’s leftbutretirement. anything Canada’s best. For Bute, thequestionwas a chanceagainst Adonis Stevenson, still of hislosstoCarlFroch orifhe’d have about whetherhecouldprevailinarematch Who wasmoredamaged? Picking awinnerwaslikedoinganautopsy. He oftenexhaustedhimselfinpursuit He wasalsoachangedman. rounds Late Iwasthebest“I knewinmyheartthat Pascal (29-2-1, 17KOs)didsowith Pascal’s overButeleftquestions victory left hands. Butitwastoolate, andPascal Pascaltrapped inacorner, landingjabsand Montreal media. arm,” trainerStephanLarouchetold from hislefthand. toremovebonechips because ofsurgery Butewascautious that There wasatheory there asearlyoroftenexpected. through 11rounds. 24 KOs), –almosttimid whowastentative andseemedtodisarmBute(31-2,energy many, conserved whichwasatacticthat fred puncheslikeasniper. Hedidn’twaste hiswaist.style –oftenhadhishandsat He precision. Hecrouchedand–intheJones in Las Vegas. Pascal and practicedpatience JonesJr.guidance fromRoy whiletraining for himandhiscity.• 112, allforPascal inanundisputedvictory cards, itwas118-110, 117-11and116- abetterrate,at 43percentto36. Onthe more punchesthanBute. Pascal alsolanded to CompuBox, endedwithhimlanding37 had toomuchleftinafghtthat, according Bute’s bestroundwasthe12th. He “You can’twinafghtwithone If Butetrainedforabullrush, itwasn’t RINGSIDE REPORTS BY NORM FRAUENHEIM

ROY JONES NO. 5 KIKO FRANKIE NO.1 NO. 7 JR. UD 12 MARTINEZ GAVIN D 10 TAKASHI TAKASHI ZINE EDDINE KO 9 NO. 2 BRADLEY UCHIYAMA MIURA TKO BENMAKHLOUF JEFFREY PRYCE UD 12 DAIKI 9 DANTE Dec. 21, Moscow MATHEBULA Dec. 21, Leeds, England KANEKO JARDON Dec. 21, Elche, Spain (Box Nation) Dec. 31, Tokyo Dec. 31, Tokyo H There was a time when Roy Jones Jr. H Kiko Martinez threw H If Frankie Gavin’s H Takashi Uchiyama H A rematch and JONES/PEREZ: HERBY WHYNE; MARTINEZ: RICH SCHULTZ/GETTY IMAGES; GAVIN: SCOTT HEAVEY/GETTY IMAGES; UCHIYAMA/ MIURA: TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES; IOKA: JIJI PRESS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES was known for his a body shot and said a 2013 resolutions knows how to a rare moment in reluctance. It even prayer. included a promise celebrate New Year’s Japanese history tagged him with an The shot landed. The to resurrect potential Eve in only one way. are possibilities unwanted nickname. prayer was answered. eroded by personal He wins. after Takashi Miura “Reluctant Roy” was Jeffrey Mathebula turmoil, the welterweight Uchiyama (21-0-1, retained his WBC junior building a legend in didn’t get up. succeeded. He went 17 KOs) won for the lightweight title with those days. He was “I prayed he 4-0, ending the year by third straight time a stoppage of Dante careful about who he wouldn’t,” Martinez beating Bradley Pryce on New Year’s Eve, Jardon and Takashi fought. Where he fought. (30-4, 22 KOs) told in a bout signifcant for closing out 2013 with Uchiyama followed The reluctance is ringside reporters after what he hopes to do in a unanimous decision by outpointing Daiki gone. The legend is in retaining the IBF’s 2014. over Daiki Kaneko. Kaneko to retain his place. junior featherweight With his personal life But it wasn’t easy. WBC crown. Have legend, will title with a ninth-round in order and a perfect Uchiyama nearly woke Takashi vs. Takashi travel. knockout of Mathebula boxing record, Gavin up to 2014 without his II has been speculated It took Jones (57- (27-5-2, 14 KOs). looks at 2014 as a WBA junior lightweight ever since the two 8, 40 KOs) to Russia, Mathebula appeared year in which he hopes title and only a met in January 2011. where fans know the to have a critical to fulfll world-class hangover to show for Uchiyama won by a legend from YouTube. advantage: Martinez is aspirations. Amir Khan his troubles. Kaneko TKO after the bout was Nobody will confuse 5-foot-5; Mathebula is is at the top of his wish (19-3-3, 12 KOs), who stopped in the eighth his opponent, French 5-11. At posed face- list. was bleeding from a round because of a cut cruiserweight Zine to-face stare downs, “Khan is a big fght I cut near his right eye suffered by Miura (27- Eddine Benmakhlouf Martinez would have want,” Gavin (18-0, 12 and suffered from a 2-2, 20 KOs). Before (17-4-1, 8 KOs), with needed a stepladder KOs) told U.K. reporters badly swollen left eye, the stoppage, Miura James Toney. But to look directly into before and after playing scored a knockdown made it interesting that’s not the point. Mathebula’s eyes. it safe in a 99-92 with a right hook in a with a third-round The legend, like Mathebula looked down decision over Pryce (34- furious 10th round, a knockdown of the show, must go at him then. But, at the 16, 18 KOs), who took late entry for Round of Uchiyama. Unifcation on. And it did with end, the South African the bout on two days’ the Year. fghts don’t happen familiar showmanship was looking up at notice. “It’s winnable.” Over the fnal two often anywhere. It complemented by quick Martinez in defeat. Khan has other ideas, rounds, Uchiyama hasn’t happened in jabs and a solid left Martinez, who of course. Namely, Floyd survived with poise, Japan since Kazuto hand. The judges liked is promoted by Mayweather Jr. If not a precise jab and Ioka’s 2012 victory what they saw, scoring middleweight champion Khan, Gavin pointed to counterpunches for a for two pieces of the it 119-108, 118-109 Sergio Martinez, turned unbeaten Kell Brook as 117-110 victory on all strawweight title. and 120-108, all for Mathebula’s slender another possibility on an three cards. Miura’s power, Jones. frame into a target by ambitious agenda. “I didn’t panic,” evident against Jones, 45, also took closing the distance. Uchiyama told Uchiyama, was simply some hard shots while By the ninth, Martinez’s reporters. too much for Jardon resting on the ropes punishing pursuit had It wouldn’t be New (24-4, 20 KOs), who in late rounds. It made worn down Mathebula Year’s Eve if he did. was foored by a left you wince, worry and and brought him within in the ffth and was wish that some of that range of a shot that cut fnished at 55 seconds reluctance would make him down like a tree. of the ninth. a comeback.

104 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 NO. 3 FAHLEEN RANCES IVAN MIKE KAZUTO SAKKREERIN BARTHELEMY REDKACH UD PEREZ MD IOKA UD 12 JR. KO 3 RYO KO 2 NO. 4 10 TONY LUIS 10 CARLOS NO. 7 FELIX MIYAZAKI ARGENIS Jan. 17, Memphis TAKAM ALVARADO Dec. 31, Osaka, Japan MENDEZ (Showtime) Jan. 18, Montreal (HBO) Dec 31, Osaka, Japan Jan. 3, Minneapolis H A sure sign that an (ESPN2) H Ivan Redkach likes H Mike Perez wanted H Kazuto Ioka took a upset was imminent to call himself the to be a heavyweight signifcant step toward occurred at the weigh- H It was a major upset. Mexican Ukrainian. It’s contender. He still a potential blockbuster in before Fahleen A major controversy, too. an unlikely combo. A does. by ending 2013 with Sakkreerin Jr.-Ryo Rances Barthelemy little like salsa and a His hopes stalled the third defense of the Miyazaki. Miyazaki dropped Argenis shot of vodka. But the with a majority draw WBA junior fyweight collapsed. Mendez twice in what potential is potent, and against Carlos Takam. title he won on the last It’s not clear whether was ruled a second- that’s been evident Perez (20-0-1 12 day of 2012. Miyazaki was ill or round knockout for the in Redkach’s steady KOs) was fghting In the wake of his weakened in a struggle IBF’s junior lightweight emergence, which for the frst time thorough decision to make 108 pounds for title. But the KO blows continued with a since a decision win over the formerly his frst junior fyweight appeared to land after decision over Tony Luis over Magomed unbeaten Felix bout since vacating the bell. in a lightweight bout. Abdusalamov, who Alvarado (18-1, 15 his strawweight title Referee Pete For the frst time, was in a medically- KOs) there’s mounting because he could no Podgorski was in a Redkach (16-0, 13 induced coma for head talk about Ioka (14-0, 9 longer get down to neutral corner, not close KOs) showed he has trauma sustained in KOs) against 108- and 105. Despite the scary enough to intervene. enough stubborn stuff the December bout. 112-pound kingpin moment, the Japanese Three seconds after the to go the distance. Abdusalamov is now in Roman Gonzalez in Boxing Commission let bell rang, it looked as He went 10 rounds, rehabilitation. what could be the the fght go on. if Barthelemy (20-0, 13 knocking down Luis It’s not clear how biggest Lord of the But Miyazaki (20-1- KOs) threw the critical (17-2, 7 KOs) once, to much Perez was Flies showdown 3, 11 KOs) entered the punch, a left. Only then score a 99-90, 97-93, affected by injuries since Mike Carbajal- ring looking depleted – did Podgorksi step in 97-92 victory on the that put Abdusalamov’s Humberto Gonzalez. without energy or hope with a 10-count over a scorecards. life in jeopardy. But Against Alvarado, – against Sakkreerin prone Mendez (21-3-1, “I went 10 rounds his thoughts were Ioka took control in (23-2, 15 KOs), the son 11 KOs). Barthelemy against my toughest with him. Perez wore the early rounds. His of Thailand’s popular thought he had a KO opponent,” Redkach “Mago” on his trunks. sharp punches left 105-pound champion in and a major crown. Not told ringside reporters. He planned to give the Nicaraguan with a the early 1990s. so fast. He now appears to Abdusalamov’s family nasty welt near his left Sakkreerin walked Mendez promoter be three or four fghts some of his purse. eye, which the ringside through Miyazaki, Mike Tyson hired away from a chance at It’s also clear Perez physician examined fnishing him off in attorney Pat English, a world title. Then, he was bothered by a twice – before the the third, frst with a who fled an appeal with says, he wants to fght head butt that resulted fourth and after the sweeping right hand and Minnesota and the IBF, Yuriorkis Gamboa. in a cut, which bled ninth. The latter was then a combination that asking that the result “I frmly believe I into his right eye. In Alvarado’s best round. put him on the canvas be ruled a no-contest can knock Gamboa the 10th, Takam (29- But he had no real and kept him there at and the title returned out,” he told RingTV. 1-1, 23 KOs) scored counter for Ioka’s 2:22 of the round. to Mendez. English com. just enough for a right hand, which was also seeking a That salsa-vodka 95-95, 95-95, 96-94 scored repeatedly in rematch at press time, cocktail includes a shot standoff with pressure a 119-109, 119-110, but Mendez might not of confdence, too. punctuated by a right 115-113 victory on the want one. He never had that staggered Perez. judges’ cards. a chance.

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 105 FIGHT RESULTS THROUGH FIGHTS OF DEC. 19 (CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)

HEAVYWEIGHTS LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS Christian Hammer UD 10 Kevin Johnson Eleider Alvarez UD 10 Andrew Gardiner Billy Wright KO 1 Ricky Torrez Jean Pascal UD 12 Lucian Bute Zoltan Petranyi KO 3 Tibor Balogh Lateef Kayode TKO 6 Jonte Willis SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS Oscar Rivas TKO 3 Shawn Cox Przemyslaw Opalach TKO 2 Maisha Samson Mike Perez D 10 Carlos Takam Samy Anouche TKO 4 Attila Palko

CRUISERWEIGHTS MIDDLEWEIGHTS Nuri Seferi DQ 7 Steve Herelius Ronny Mittag UD 12 Mikheil Khutsishvili Roy Jones Jr. UD 12 Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf Marcos Reyes TKO 3 Isaac Mendez Taylor Mabika TKO 7 Prince George Akrong Dmitry Chudinov TKO 6 Juan Camilo Novoa Victor Ramirez UD 10 Mariano Diaz Strunz Adrian Luna Flores TKO 2 Ulises Jimenez Caleb Truax D 10 Ossie Duran

Heavyweight contender Mike Perez (right) was lucky to emerge with a draw against Carlos Takam on Jan. 18. Antoine Douglas UD 8 Marquis Davis Alexander Miskirtchian MD 12 Sofane Takoucht Yukinori Oguni TKO 8 Yuki Fujimoto JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS Jason Welborn TKO 8 Terry Carruthers JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS Ferdinand Pilz TKO 4 Istvan Kiss Alexis Kabore UD 12 Reynaldo Cajina Frankie Gavin W 10 Bradley Pryce Mike Tawatchai KO 2 Yoichi Oguma Sasha Yengoyan KO 7 Igor Faniyan Rey Vargas UD 10 Ernie Sanchez Ramon Alvarez TKO 2 Gilberto Hernandez Arturo Santos Reyes UD 10 Jesus Acosta Frank Galarza KO 2 John Tompson Kiko Martinez KO 9 Jefrey Mathebula Fonluang Kokietgym TKO 2 Budi Risky WELTERWEIGHTS Jorge Lara MD 10 Jairo Hernandez Jose Zepeda KO 3 Emanuel Lopez Horacio Garcia TKO 1 Fernando Lumacad Pablo Munguia UD 10 Samuel Vargas Dan Nazareno Jr. TKO 2 Eusebio Baluarte BANTAMWEIGHTS Lanardo Tyner TKO 12 Angel Hernandez Stuart Hall UD 12 Vusi Malinga Teerachai Kratingdaenggym KO 1 Fernando Castaneda Ratchasak Kokietgym KO 2 Panca Silaban Mikael Zewski TKO 7 Krzysztof Szot Anthony Settoul TKO 1 Rodrigo Bracco Tepparith Singwancha TKO 2 Ricky Manufoe JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS Petch Sor Chitpattana UD 10 Xian Wei Qian Juan Manuel Witt KO 2 Oscar Ulises Lopez Yoan Boyeaux KO 2 Benjamin Alcides Cantero Amir Imam KO 1 Sergio Perez Alie Laurel TKO 5 Tiger Tor Buamas Michele Di Rocco UD 12 Ville Piispanen Alejandro Hernandez UD 12 Isao Gonzalo Carranza Viktor Postol UD 10 Behzod Nabiev Tomas Rojas KO 8 Vergel Nebran Zahir Raheem UD 10 Bayan Jargal Sonny Boy Jaro KO 1 Marzon Cabilla Abner Lopez SD 10 Humberto Gutierrez (F) Carolina Rodriguez UD 10 Simone Da Silva Duarte Antonio DeMarco TKO 2 Jesus Gurrola Sebastien Gauthier D 8 Javier Franco (F) Ana Laura Esteche UD 10 Monica Acosta JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHTS LIGHTWEIGHTS (F) Debora Dionicius UD 10 Guadalupe Martinez (F) Maria Maderna UD 10 Diana Ayala Omar Narvaez TKO 7 David Carmona Fernando Carcamo TKO 2 Sergio Rivera Petchbarngborn Kokietgym KO 2 Jemmy Gobel Eduard Troyanovsky TKO 2 Allan Kamote Carlos Cuadras TKO 2 Songseanglek Phosuwangym Richard Commey TKO 8 Prince Ofotsu (F) Daniela Bermudez TKO 8 Linda Laura Lecca Roman Reinoso TKO 8 Isaias Santos Sampaio David Sanchez KO 4 Marco Demecillo Masayoshi Nakatani MD 12 Yoshitaka Kato Felipe Orucuta TKO 10 Gabriel Pena Marcelino Nicolas Lopez TKO 3 Sidney Siqueira Yvan Mendy UD 10 Sylvain Chapelle FLYWEIGHTS Ivan Redkach UD 10 Tony Luis (F) Shindo Go UD 10 Judith Rodriguez Jason Canoy KO 1 Aroel Romasasa JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS Hiroshige Osawa TKO 9 Tetsuya Nishinaga JUNIOR FLYWEIGHTS Ronald Pontillas TD 5 Leonardo Doronio Tabiso Moorosi TKO 4 Mfundo Gwayana Takashi Uchiyama UD 12 Daiki Kaneko Kazuto Ioka UD 12 Felix Alvarado Takashi Miura TKO 9 Dante Jardon Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. KO 3 Ryo Miyazaki Rances Barthelemy KO 2 Argenis Mendez Ganigan Lopez UD 12 Mario Rodriguez Terdsak Kokietgym UD 12 Mark Sales Ramon Garcia Hirales W 12 Lionel Duran Juan Antonio Rodriguez MD 8 Yenifel Vicente Nery Saguilan UD 10 Adones Aguelo STRAWWEIGHTS Wanheng Menayothin UD 6 Madit Sada FEATHERWEIGHTS Jesus Silvestre W 6 Jesus Reyes

HERBY WHYNE Rikiya Fukuhara UD 8 Masaaki Serie Samartlek Chaiyonggym UD 12 Jimmy Masangkay Leonilo Miranda TKO 4 Ulises Perez Go Odaira UD 10 Masashi Tada Oleg Malinovskiy TKO 3 Nikoloz Berkatsashvili Virgil Puton TKO 4 Richard Olisa

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 107 PREDICTIONS ARE MADE BY RING STAFF MEMBERS COMING UP MICHAEL ROSENTHAL, DOUG FISCHER AND LEM SATTERFIELD.

MARCH

JULIO CESAR ORLANDO CANELO ALVAREZ LEO SANTA CRUZ CHAVEZ JR. VS. SALIDO VS. VASYL VS. ALFREDO VS. CRISTIAN BRYAN VERA II LOMACHENKO ANGULO MIJARES March 1, Alamodome, March 1, Alamodome, March 8, MGM Grand, March 8, MGM Grand, San Antonio San Antonio Las Vegas Las Vegas

Division: Super middleweights Division: Featherweights (for Division: Junior middleweights Division: Junior featherweights Salido’s WBO title) (for Santa Cruz’s WBC title) TV: HBO TV: Showtime Pay-Per-View TV: HBO TV: Showtime Pay-Per-View Watchability rating (up to Watchability rating (up to f ve f ve stars): ★ ★ ★ ★ Watchability rating (up to stars): ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Watchability rating (up to f ve stars): ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ f ve stars): ★ ★ ★ ★ Also f ghting: Orlando Also f ghting: Leo Santa Cruz Salido vs. Vasyl Lomachenko, Also f ghting: Julio Cesar vs. Cristian Mijares, junior Also f ghting: Canelo Alvarez featherweights (for Salido’s WBO Chavez Jr. vs. Bryan Vera, super featherweights (for Santa vs. Alfredo Angulo, junior title); Juan Diaz vs. Gerardo middleweights Cruz’s WBC title); Carlos Molina middleweights; Omar Figueroa Robles, lightweights Signif cance: The story here is vs. Jermall Charlo, junior vs. Ricardo Alvarez, lightweights Signif cance: Some believe a about the immensely talented middleweights (for Molina’s IBF Signif cance: No one has been listless Chavez (47-1-1, 32 KOs) challenger. Lomachenko (7- title); Omar Figueroa vs. Ricardo able to withstand the relentless was given a gift decision in his 0) will be f ghting for a major Alvarez, lightweights. pressure applied by Santa Cruz f rst f ght against Vera, before title after just seven pro f ghts, Signif cance: Alvarez (42-1-1, (26-0-1, 15 KOs), one of the which Chavez battled his weight. including six with the World 30 KOs) lost to Floyd Mayweather hottest f ghters in the business. We presume he’ll be better Series of Boxing. Salido (40-12- Jr. in September, the Mexican’s Mijares (49-7-2, 24 KOs) is prepared this time. Vera (23-7, 2, 28 KOs) isn’t as skillful as his f rst setback. No shame in that. a skillful former 115-pound 14 KOs), a true pro with limited foe but is a hardened veteran He faces a much more beatable titleholder but might not have ability, will def nitely be ready. who won’t go easily. foe in the tough, hard-punching the physical strength to hold off Santa Cruz. Prediction: Rosenthal – Chavez Prediction: Rosenthal – Angulo (22-3, 18 KOs), who is KO 9; Fischer – Chavez UD; Lomachenko UD; Fischer – coming off a solid performance Prediction: Rosenthal – Santa Satterf eld – Chavez KO 10. Lomachenko MD; Satterf eld against Erislandy Lara. Cruz KO 6; Fischer – Santa Cruz – Lomachenko SD. Prediction: Rosenthal – Alvarez UD; Satterf eld – Santa Cruz KO 9; Fischer – Alvarez KO 10; KO 9. Satterf eld – Alvarez UD 12.

108 RINGTV.COM / 4.14 MARCH APRIL BEIBUT MARCH 1 – Robert Stieglitz SHUMENOV vs. Arthur Abraham, super VS. BERNARD middleweights (for Stieglitz’s HOPKINS WBO title), Magdeburg, March 29 (or April 19), Germany. Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. MARCH 1 – Ricky Burns vs. (or Alamodome, San Antonio) Terence Crawford, lightweights (for Burns’ WBO title), Glasgow, Scotland (AWE). MARCH 1 – Paul Butler vs. Diego Luis Pichardo Liriano, junior bantamweights, Liverpool, England. MARCH 7 – Rustam Nugaev vs. Marvin Quintero, lightweights, Pala, Calif. (ESPN2) MARCH 8 – Yoan Pablo Hernandez vs. Pawel Kolodziej, cruiserweights (for Hernandez’s RING and IBF titles), Berlin. MARCH 15 – Danny Garcia vs. Mauricio Herrera, junior welterweights (for Garcia’s CHAVEZ/VERA: NAOKI FUKUDA, SALIDO/LOMACHENKO/HOPKINS: ETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAGES; CANELO COURTESY OF SHOWTIME; ANGULO: HOGAN PHOTOS; RING, WBC and WBA titles), Puerto Rico (Showtime) MARCH 15 – Tomasz Adamek vs. Vyacheslav Glazkov, Division: Light heavyweights heavyweights, Bethlehem, Pa. CRUZ: JEFF BOTTARI/GOLDEN BOY; MIJARES: JED JACOBSOHN; SHEMENOV: RONALD MARTINEZ; PACQUIAO/BRADLEY; JOE KLAMAR (title unifcation) (NBA Sports Net). TV: Showtime MARCH 15 – Richar Abril MANNY APRIL 4 – Marco Antonio Watchability rating (up to vs. Eduard Troyanovsky, PACQUIAO Rubio vs. Domenico Spada, fve stars): H H H lightweights (for Abril’s WBA VS. TIMOTHY middleweights, Mexico BRADLEY II Signifcance: Hopkins (54- title), Moscow. APRIL 5 – Juergen Braehmer April 12, MGM Grand, 6-2, 32 KOs) recently turned MARCH 15 – Tony Bellew vs. vs. TBA, light heavyweights, Las Vegas 49 but continues to roll along. Valery Brudov, cruiserweights, Rostock, Germany. No opponent Shumenov (14-1, 9 KOs) is Liverpool, England. had been announced at press inexperienced and somewhat Division: Welterweights time. MARCH 22 – Erik Morales vs. crude, which seems to make him TV: HBO Pay-Per-View Jorge Paez Jr., welterweights, an ideal foil for this version of Monterrey, Mexico. Watchability rating (up to Hopkins. The date and site of the MAY fve stars): H H H H fght had not been fnalized by MARCH 22 – Odlanier Solis vs. press time. Tony Thompson, heavyweights, Signifcance: Pacquiao (55-5- MAY 3 – Floyd Mayweather Turkey. 2, 38 KOs) lost a controversial Jr. vs. TBA, welterweights (for Prediction: Rosenthal – Hopkins decision to Bradley (31-0, Mayweather’s RING and WBC UD; Fischer – Hopkins UD; MARCH 26 – Denkaosen 12 KOs) in June 2012 and titles), Las Vegas (Showtime Satterfeld – Hopkins SD. Kaovichit vs. Kohei Kono, junior then was stopped by Juan bantamweights, Tokyo. Pay-Per-View). Note: Numerous Manuel Marquez. He bounced reports indicated at press back by outpointing Brandon time that Mayweather will Rios, but Bradley, coming off fght Amir Khan but no formal an impressive victory over announcement had been made. Marquez, is a much sterner test. Prediction: Rosenthal – Pacquiao UD; Fischer – Draw; Satterfeld – Bradley MD.

December 31, 2014 THE RING CARD GIRL OF THE MONTH BY HEATHER SHANHOLTZ

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“Boxers must be part of the equation.” — BOC Member José Chegüi Torres Wilfredo Gomez (right) of Puerto Rico was on one of the more remarkable runs in boxing history when he faced Derrik Holmes in the summer of 1980. Gomez drew in his pro debut and then proceeded to knock out his next 32 opponents, including Holmes, who went down a remarkable eight times before the fght was fnally stopped in the ffth round. Fellow Hall of Famer Carlos Zarate of Mexico was also one of those 32 victims in a much-hyped fght. The 33rd opponent was Zarate’s great countryman Salvador Sanchez, who avenged his nation’s honor by stopping Gomez in eight rounds in 1981. Gomez would then go 12-2 the remainder of his career and retire as one of Puerto Rico’s greatest boxing heroes. THE RING will select a photo from its vast archive each month to publish in the magazine. For more archive photos, go to our website — RingTV.com — or scan the QR code. The Ring Magazine

4.14 / RINGTV.COM 113 AT THE FIGHTS 1.

2. 3.

1. Basilio Diaz (right) with Andre Ward at the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Canelo Alvarez show in Las Vegas. 2. Robert Niebla (left) with Robert Guerrero on Robert Guerrero Day in Gilroy, Calif. 3. Eduardo Castillo (right) with Leo Santa Cruz at the Marcos Maidana-Adrien Broner card in San Antonio. 4. Jim Micsko Jr. (left) and Jim Micsko Sr. f ank Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech before the Manny Pacquiao-Brandon Rios f ght in Macau. 5. Joe Thielen (right) with Mike Tyson at the Argenis Mendez-Rances Barthelemy card in Minneapolis. 6. Mark McCloud (center) with Guillermo Rigondeaux (left) and Joel Casamayor at the Rigondeaux-Joseph Agbeko show in Atlantic City, N.J. 7. Ron (second from left) and David Goldman are f anked by Angel Garcia (left) and Danny Garcia in Brooklyn, N.Y. 4.

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114114 THERINGTV.COM RING MAGAZINE / 4.14 / 12.13