Strong Group of Mexican-Americans Carries on Enduring Tradition

Home , Adrien Broner, Amanda Serrano, Ann Wolfe, Anselmo Moreno, Antonio DeMarco, Armando Muniz

LETTERS FROM EUROPE FROCH-KESSLER IS A COMPELLING REMATCH

STRONG GROUP OF MEXICAN-AMERICANS CARRIES ON ENDURING TRADITION

VICTOR ORTIZ ROBERT GUERRERO LEO SANTA CRUZ

UNHAPPY RETURNS BOXERS OFTEN HAVE A TOUGH TIME STAYING RETIRED

FATHER-SON ACT ANGEL GARCIA FIRES OFF WORDS, SON DANNY PUNCHES

HOMECOMING

MAY 2013 MAY SERGIO MARTINEZ RETURNS TO ARGENTINA A HERO

TOO YOUNG TO DIE $8.95 OMAR HENRY NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO BLOSSOM

CONTENTS / MAY 2013 38 64 70

FEATURES COVER STORY PACKAGE 58 | OVERSTAYED WELCOMES 76 | A LIFE CUT SHORT BOXERS HAVE A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE OMAR HENRY DIED OF CANCER BEFORE 38 | ENDURING TRADITION HABIT OF STICKING AROUND TOO LONG HE COULD REALIZE HIS POTENTIAL MEXICAN-AMERICAN BOXERS’ RECORD By Bernard Fernandez By Gary Andrew Poole OF SUCCESS CONTINUES By Don Stradley 64 | BARK AND BITE 82 | UNTAPPED SOURCE? ANGEL AND DANNY GARCIA ARE AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION 46 | NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN EFFECTIVE FATHER-SON TEAM ZOU SHIMING COULD MIKEY GARCIA’S BLEND OF POWER, By Ron Borges BE THE FIRST STAR SAVVY IS PROVING FORMIDABLE FROM CHINA 7O WELCOME HOME By Norm Frauenheim | By Tim Smith SERGIO MARTINEZ RETURNS TO 52 | BEST IN THE BIZ ARGENTINA A CONQUERING HERO TOP 10 MEXICAN-AMERICAN BOXERS By Bart Barry By Doug Fischer AT RINGTV.COM DEPARTMENTS

4 | RINGSIDE 94 | RINGSIDE REPORTS

5 | OPENING SHOTS 100 | WORLDWIDE RESULTS

10 | COME OUT WRITING 102 | COMING UP

11 | READY TO GRUMBLE 104 | NEW FACES: TERENCE CRAWFORD By David Greisman By Mike Coppinger

15 | ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES 106 | SIX PACK Jabs and Straight Writes by Thomas Hauser By T.K. Stewart

22 | BEST I’VE FACED: ZAB JUDAH 108 | WOMEN’S BOXING By Mike Coppinger By Ryan Songalia

24 | OUTSIDE THE ROPES 110 | WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO ...? BRONER-REES PHOTOS By Brian Harty By Don Stradley GO TO: http://bit.ly/XCjerH

DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW US ON: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/RINGTV @RINGMAGAZINE THERINGDIGITAL COVER IMAGE: ED MULHOLLAND THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 3 MAYWEATHER: ONE OF A KIND

By: Michael Rosenthal nition) every time he f ghts. That’s $60 million in domestic pay- VOLUME 92, NO. 5 | MAY 2013 he announcement that Floyd per-view income alone, of which Mayweather Jr. had signed a Mayweather gets a percentage. It FOUNDER T Nathaniel Fleischer deal with Showtime for up to doesn’t include other sources of (1888-1972) six f ghts over 30 months was im- revenue. EDITOR portant for a number of reasons. Of course, the formula only Michael Rosenthal Mayweather’s defection from works for Mayweather. Not even ASSOCIATE EDITOR HBO to its rival was a major coup Pacquiao (who earned $56 million Douglass Fischer for Showtime, which instantly be- in ring over the same period May- came more competitive with the weather earned $85 million) can CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brian Harty industry leader. And, if basic eco- generate quite the same numbers. nomic principles come into play, That’s why the deal was so im- CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Naoki Fukuda, Dave Allen increased competition should re- portant for Showtime: It now has sult in a better product – or bet- on its roster the king of boxing ter f ght cards – on the premium and the highest individual money ART DIRECTOR channels going forward. earner in sports, which of course Sharon Kaplan The presumed contract numbers will benefit the network both fi- COVER DESIGN are impressive. Forbes Magazine nancially and in terms of prestige. ANYONE™ COLLECTIVE estimated that Mayweather could The element of the contract that RING CARD GIRLS CONTRIBUTOR make at least $250 million, or a was most intriguing to me was the Heather Shanholtz little over $40 million per f ght if number of f ghts. Mayweather ap- he steps into the ring six times. parently isn’t required to f ght six CONTROLLER Deborah L. Harrison The deal, which begins with a times over 2½ years; however, he f ght against Robert Guerrero on said he wants to f ght more often CIRCULATION DIRECTOR May 4, is one of the richest in than his typical once a year. Kenneth J. Gudaitis the history of sports. We really “The fans want to see a lot more shouldn’t be surprised, though. of me. I will give you excitement,” ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Mayweather earned a combined Mayweather said after the an- Robert Gasparri $85 million for his last two f ghts, nouncement. 213-233-2952 [email protected] making him the richest athlete in I can see Mayweather fighting the world over that period, ac- twice a year over the next three SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES cording to Forbes. years if he continues to win. He SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PUBLICATIONS A quarter of billion for six hasn’t fought more than once a P.O. BOX 433122 f ghts? Par for the course. year since 2007. Palm Coast, FL 32164-3122 Mayweather isn’t as popular as That’s more exciting than the 1-800-846-6438 LeBron James or Lionel Messi or Showtime coup or the ridiculous [email protected] Tiger Woods, superstar athletes amount of money involved. If you BACK ISSUES who make far less money that he like him, you’ll have the opportu- 215-643-3087 OR ONLINE AT does. He just happens to be the nity to see him do his thing twice RINGTV.COM biggest thing going in the right as often. If you don’t, you know DIGITAL EDITION INQUIRIES sport. you’ll be watching anyway. [email protected] The boxing formula is simple: Mayweather is must-see TV. SEND EDITORIAL COMMENTS TO: Mayweather generates around That’s why he makes so much [email protected] 1 million pay-per-view buys at money, why Showtime wanted him or P.O. BOX 251753, $59.95 each (more for high def - and why we care. ■ Los Angeles CA, 90025

THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410), Vol. 92, No. 5 (May 2013), is published monthly by Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, 510 Township Line Rd., Suite 130, Blue bell, PA 19422. Periodicals postage paid at Blue Bell, PA 19422 and additional post off ces. Postmasters: 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 Canada (£4.95 in the UK). Subscription price $78.70 in the U.S., $127.10 in Canada and Mexico, $143.70 in remaining countries. Not responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited articles or photographs, which will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope bearing the proper amount of postage. The entire contents of this magazine are copyright ©2012 Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of advertisements appearing in this magazine, nor the delivery or quality of merchandise or services offered. No endorsement of any such advertisement is intended or implied. Advertisers and agencies assume liability for claims arising from the content of their advertisements. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRES AND RATES: (213) 233-2952. U.S. and Canadian distribution by Kable Distribution Services Inc., 14 Wall Street, Suite 4C, New York, NY 10022. International distribution by Worldwide Media Service Inc., 115 East 23rd St., New York, NY 10010, UK distribution by Comag Tavistock Rd., West Drayton, Middlesex UB77QE, England. Printed in U.S.A. JOB WELL DONE: Adrien Broner took a few rounds to get rolling but once he did … well, this is the result. Broner put his speed and power on eye-popping display once again, pounding a helpless Gavin Rees until the fght was mercifully stopped with a second to go in the ffth round Feb. 16 in Atlantic City, N.J. Image: Naoki Fukuda

TAKE THAT: Three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren (right) is fnding his groove as a professional fghter, as Richard Hernandez found out the hard way on the Adrien Broner-Gavin Rees card. Warren stopped Hernandez in the second round, the talented bantamweight’s frst knockout and third victory in as many fghts. Image: Naoki Fukuda

DOWN AND OUT: Edner Cherry had good reason to celebrate on the Adrien Broner-Gavin Rees card – a sixth-round knockout of former U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo, arguably the biggest victory of Cherry’s 13-year career. The 30-year-old Bahamian has won his last seven offcial fghts. Escobedo has been stopped in consecutive bouts. Image: Al Bello-Getty is taller, younger, stronger and MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO maybe a tad quicker than Cotto. Mayweather’s also getting old- UNDERDOG CAN to throw off Guerrero’s timing er and he’s been inactive. That DO DAMAGE and ultimately win a competitive might hurt him. After all, he’s just unanimous decision. Guerrero a man. And I think it’s time for a Given the surprising competitive- has the heart of a lion but failed new star to emerge. Guerrero de- ness of Miguel Cotto in Floyd to make necessary adjustments serves this chance. Mayweather Jr.’s last fght, I think against Andre Berto throughout Mike Guerrero has pretty good chance the course of that fght (continu- Philadelphia of doing some damage to May- ously getting hit with the left weather. He’s one inch taller than hook) and as Mayweather always Cotto, his reach is three inches says, “If you make a mistake, you longer and he’s a lot fresher and must pay.” I don’t believe May- in some ways nastier than Cotto. weather will get much credit if I don’t think Guerrero is going he beats “The Ghost.” People will BRONER VULNERABLE? to allow Mayweather to dictate discredit Berto as “HBO hype” the distance and pot-shot him. I I know Adrien Broner has been a and most of the masses have nev- think he’s going to get right up in major topic of conversation. I’ll er heard of Guerrero’s previous Mayweather’s grill and make this agree with the masses. One, Bro- opponent, Selcuk Aydin. In fact, ugly. How would Mayweather ner is highly entertaining; two, I think the perception of May- deal with possibly being cut or Broner is the future of boxing; weather will be clouded for many roughed up? I don’t see Guerrero and, three, Broner has the skill set years. Only after he has retires winning but I think he can take to keep him at the top. will people appreciate his great- Mayweather places he would not BUT he has shown that he is ness. And if he somehow loses to want to go. quite vulnerable. The most appar- Guerrero, his entire career will be Stephen de Villiers Graaff ent faw is that he is more wor- discredited by many people. Cape Town, South Africa ried about his microphone work- Mike Samuels ing and rapping as he walks to MAYWEATHER Grand Rapids, Mich. the ring than he is about fghting. Even as he entered the ring, he WILL PREVAIL BEST POSSIBLE was busy showing off. In doing I like the Floyd Mayweather Jr.- MATCHUP so it took him three rounds to get Robert Guerrero matchup both his head in the game. Rees easily on paper and inside the ring. I Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Robert won the frst two rounds because think Guerrero’s momentum will Guerrero is the best matchup he was ready to go to battle from carry him through the frst few for both guys at 147 pounds. the opening bell; Broner was not rounds of the fght. But at the Hands down. Right now, Guer- ready. If Rees was a real power end of the day Mayweather will rero has the best chance at beat- threat, things could have gone prove that while his legs aren’t ing Mayweather, a much better south for Broner in a hurry to what they once were, his mind is chance than Miguel Cotto had. start the fght off. still sharp, and he will fnd a way Mayweather’s big advantage over If I were Broner’s trainer, I to make the proper adjustments Cotto was his height. Guerrero would suggest a fast and furious fght right from the get go because Broner is more interested in enter- WRITE TO THE RING! E-mailed letters will include a writer’s e-mail taining at the start of a fght than address unless a city and state of origin is provided. Letters may be edited for reasons he is interested in boxing. Come out Writing, the ring of space and clarity. P.O. Box 251753 Zach Thoms Los Angeles, CA 90025 Milwaukee [email protected]

10 the ring magazine - may 2013 Image: Naoki Fukuda Say what you will about Adrien Broner’s unusual antics, which are entertaining to some and obnoxious to others. The ability he demonstrates once the bell rings suggest that the lightweight from Cincinnati will be a major player in the sport for a long time. GET USED TO BRONER

By: David Greisman cas Matthysse in the way that he’s Broner now stands out as a fght- dismantled Antonio DeMarco and er, and he has begun to distance ou might as well get used to Gavin Rees, then he will become himself from the ranks of the YAdrien Broner — get used to boxing’s next great superstar. other titleholders, contenders and the jokes that fall as fat on There was a time when we pretenders. It’s not that he’s even their faces as his opponents do, get didn’t know what to make of proven himself to be the best at used to the hair brushing and the him. He had arrived on our TV junior lightweight and lightweight. dancing after he scores a knock- screens as a potentially abomi- But he’s beating his opponents down and the rapping en route to nable wannabe combination of badly — decisively, dismissively the ring and any of the many other Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Roy and with disturbing ease. gimmicks that are sure to surface. Jones Jr. He has remained on He’s come a long way from barely Get used to them, because if our screens because he is a win- defeating Daniel Ponce de Leon. It there’s one thing we’ve learned ning combination of his idols. seemed unfair that Broner would be when looking beyond those rou- There’s no need to contrast him featured again and again on HBO tines, it’s that Broner is no gim- with them anymore — he is not immediately after that, being al- mick when he’s between those Adrien Broner Mayweather Jones lowed to embarrass gimme foes ropes. He’s a 23-year-old prodigy, Jr. Jr. Jr., despite the comparisons such as Jason Litzau and Vicente and if he can go on to defeat fght- in narcissistic personalities and Rodriguez, neither of whom stood ers such as Danny Garcia or Lu- pugilistic styles. a chance of remaining standing.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 11 It had become clear that we were going to see a lot of Broner back when he was essentially being given the spotlight. What’s even clearer now is that he’s earning this attention — and that we will see more of him so long as he keeps producing these highlights.

It is completely acceptable to be excited by Gennady Golovkin without necessarily being excited about him. And if you want to be excited about Golovkin, that’s also fne — it just depends on your expectations. Some of us hype fghters before their accomplishments ever match their acclaim. And some of us hate hyped fghters, celebrating the moments in which they are not only defeated, but defated. Neither of these attitudes is fair. We should not only care about a boxer when he is winning, and only if he is winning against top opposition. Nor should we stop following a fighter once he’s proven to be neither world class nor a world- beater. Golovkin’s résumé at middleweight hasn’t shown him to be either just yet, despite the fact that he’s won all 25 of his fghts, on Golovkin’s flaws and expose Gatti was and what he wasn’t. knocked out all but three of his him as powerful but limited. And they also knew what they foes, scored 12 KOs in a row and Even if that happens, Golovkin were going to get when he was on brutalized Gabriel Rosado so represents what we have long the air. Golovkin and Gatti are dif- badly that Rosado’s trainer was wanted from the television net- ferent as fghters, but what they do caught on camera worrying about works — to put on a boxer who share is a fan-friendly, fst-fying his fghter’s health. will be in entertaining fights, approach to action. No, he hasn’t beaten any of the no matter his skill level, and to It’s completely acceptable for other titleholders or top contend- search for talent from outside the networks to spend money on ers in the 160-pound division. of the United States in order to Golovkin fghts, so long as we are And no, there doesn’t need to be a feature a more representative also ending up richer for it. rush to push him into a shot at the sample of what the boxing world champion, Sergio Martinez. can offer. Yet he is wholly deserving of Nobody needed to complain airtime on HBO, even if you’re in about Arturo Gatti being on HBO The fragmentation of boxing that camp that is waiting for the against second- and third-tier op- has long been good for the box- one opponent who will capitalize position. They already knew what ers, but bad for the sport.

12 the ring magazine - may 2013 Image: Naoki Fukuda Only time will tell how good hard-punching middleweight contender Gennady Golovkin will be but we know what we’ll get whenever he fghts: all-out action, which is an excellent reason for HBO to showcase him.

Having so many promoters poverty that accompanies obscu- the dozens of state and tribal ath- means that the fighters can po- rity and closer to the paydays that letic commissions need to enact re- tentially have bidders competing are the rewards of glory. Yet these forms. The promoters and boxers for their services, promising them sanctioning bodies have made it need to be willing to contribute to more money. Yet promotional ri- diffcult for the casual fan to fol- the cost of increased integrity. valries also pose obstacles to box- low the sport, to know who is The ability for fighters to get ing rivalries, preventing fighters worth watching. away with using banned sub- from being allowed to prove their And now the fragmentation of stances is a situation that cannot superiority over those in opposing boxing is keeping us from clean- be remedied without a mass — stables. ing up the latest scourge in a sport and massive — effort to improve Having so many sanctioning whose history is one of flth — the a drug testing system with bigger bodies has meant that more fght- potential prevalence of boxers us- holes in it than Vitali Klitschko’s ers can get title shots, which has ing performance enhancing drugs. face had after six rounds with brought some boxers out of the The several sanctioning bodies and Lennox Lewis.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 13

the lighter side of a serious sport jabs & straight writes By Thomas Hauser WORDS FROM THE WISE By: Thomas Hauser

eddy Brenner is widely regarded as the greatest matchmaker in the history of boxing. He began making Tmatches in New Jersey shortly after World War II. Stints in New York at Madison Square Garden, the Coney Island Velodrome, Long Beach Stadium, Eastern Parkway Arena and St. Nicholas Arena followed. In 1959, he returned to The Garden, where he served as matchmaker and, later, president of Madison Square Garden Boxing. He left MSG in 1978 and spent the last years of his career with Top Rank. Brenner died in 2000. His legacy lives on in memories of the fghts he made and the axioms of his trade that are Image: THE RING now part of boxing lore. Among the words of wisdom that Legendary matchmaker Teddy Brenner’s sage words are Brenner offered were: clear evidence that he understood the sport as few have.

“A matchmaker is a guy “There’s only two “Managers are always who starts fghts. Then he types of fghters: suspicious that the other gets out of the way and guy is getting a better lets other people fnish those who can fght deal.”

them.” and those who can’t.” More on page 16

QUICK QUIZ 1. Who was the frst man to win world championships in three different weight divisions?

2. Eight fghters are credited in the riNg record book with having scored 100 or more knockouts in their professional career, including the man on the left in this photo. Who are they?

3. Lee Epperson had one professional fght. Why was it signifcant?

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 15 the lighter side of a serious sport

jabs & straight writes By Thomas Hauser

“Before I make a fght, I “All I ever wanted in this “The matchmaker has ask myself, ‘Is this a good game was to put on the to deal with people, and fght? Does the fght lead best fghts I could make.” people are always up to anywhere? And would I something. They’re al- buy a ticket to watch it?’” ways making deals and “I wouldn’t fx a fght for then changing their mind. my own brother. That People can be a lot of “There’s heavyweight doesn’t mean everybody trouble.” boxing. And then there’s in boxing feels that way.” everything else.” Guys call me up and “Nobody is perfect. But say, ‘Who do I have “Matchmaking is not there’s one goddamn to see and who do I simply a matter of put- thing I know, and that is have to know?’ Well, ting No. 1 against No. 2. that nobody knows more Anybody can do that.” they have to see me about how to make a and they have to match than I do.” know me.” “It isn’t easy to be a matchmaker. If a fght you make is good, the fghters get the credit. If it’s bad, the matchmaker QUiZ aNswers:

gets the blame.” 1. Bob Fitzsimmons won the middleweight title in 1891, the heavyweight championship in 1897 and the light heavyweight crown in 1903.

“Fans want to see the 2. According to the RING Record Book, boxing’s knockout kings are Archie Moore (130), Young Stribling (126), Billy Bird (125), best fghts. That doesn’t George Odwell (114), Sugar Ray Robinson (110), Sandy Saddler necessarily mean the (103), Sam Langford (102) and Henry Armstrong (100). Saddler best fghters.” is pictured on Page 15.

3. Rocky Marciano made his pro debut against Epperson on March 17, 1947, and knocked him out in the third round. “A matchmaker has to convince both sides that they can win the fght. It’s Thomas Hauser can be reached by email at [email protected]. His most recent book — And the New …: An Inside Look at Another Year in Boxing a bit of a con.” was published by the University of Arkansas Press.

16 the ring magazine - may 2013 Image: Courtesy of Boxrec.com John Sheppard provides a service that has proved to be invaluable for everyone in the boxing business.

UNSUNG HEROES John Sheppard

oxing has its share of unsung heroes. John Shep- their coordinator, they’ve fashioned and are sharing a Bpard is one of them. database that’s unparalleled in the history of boxing. Sheppard is a 48-year-old Englishman who Boxrec.com is one of the most heavily-trafficked once worked for Naseem Hamed’s promotional com- boxing websites in the world. On an average day, it pany. As the 20th century drew to a close, he put to- has 80,000 visitors who view 600,000 pages. Its da- gether a small database for internal use to track Brit- tabase includes 1,700,000 bouts, encompassing more ish boxers. Then ... than 19,000 active and 467,000 non-active fghters. “The Internet was taking off at the time,” Sheppard Those numbers keep growing as new fghts take place said. “I asked myself, ‘Why not put the data up on the and old ones are recorded. Internet so everyone can use it?’” There are frequent suggestions that Sheppard turn In May 2000, Sheppard rented space on a server. Boxrec.com into a pay site, but he has steadfastly “It was a hobby more than anything else,” he said. resisted the lure of gold. “The only possible motive “I paid for it out of my own pocket. Then I got an would be mercenary,” he said. “That’s not why I start- email from someone in America saying that he was ed the site. That’s not what it’s all about.” a record collector and wanted to help, so I gave him Boxrec.com is boxing’s indispensable website. Virtu- the password. After that, there were more emails from ally everyone, from promoters and television execu- more collectors.” tives to fghters and fans, uses it. People take it for Boxrec.com now has about 100 contributing edi- granted. But boxing would miss Boxrec.com if it were tors, all of whom work for free. With Sheppard as gone.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 17 What boxers are into outside the sport >>> PAULIE MALIGNAGGI WBA welterweight titleholder from Brooklyn, N.Y. ADVANCED Music: I like a lot of hip-hop. Eminem is my favorite hip-hop artist. I also like a lot of ’80s music like Guns N’ Roses and DEGREES Metallica, so I have a varied taste in music. car: My favorite car is probably a Lamborghini Diablo, but if I could get me a Maserati or an Aston Martin, I’d be happy. Degrees of separation between Food: It varies on my mood, but I would say ravioli with fghters of today and their lobster sauce. predecessors. This month: Hall of TaTToos: I have one tattoo on my back: the word “immortal” with a sword Fame light heavyweight “Slapsie” stabbing through the entire word and boxing gloves hanging off both ends of the Maxie Rosenbloom, who fought from sword with blood dripping from the gloves. To me it means the immortality I feel the early 1920s to the late ’30s, to when I’m inside the ring as a fghter. The blood dripping along with the sweat I put future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. in when I’m fghting obviously is the sacrifce I’m putting in to achieve my goals and success in the ring, and the sword means the warrior mentality. It’s the only one I have. aThleTe (ouTside BoXiNG): Roberto Baggio, a soccer player (Italian). Movie: Braveheart with Mel Gibson. video GaMe: FIFA 13. The only video game I play. I don’t even play the boxing games; I only play the FIFA games.

>>> GENNADY GOLOVKIN WBA middleweight titleholder from Kazakhstan Music: Michael Jackson. THE RING, Getty car: Mercedes-Benz. Food: Meat, especially beef. MaXie roseNBlooM TaTToos: None. fought … aThleTe (ouTside BoXiNG): Alexander Karelin (Greco- Roman wrestler) and Michael Phelps (swimmer). Lou Nova, who fought … Movie: Apocalypto. video GaMe: Mario Brothers, Tanks. Lee Savold, who fought … >>> THOMAS OOSTHUIZEN Rocky Marciano, who fought … Super middleweight contender from South Africa

Archie Moore, who fought … Music: I love of all genres of music. Favorites at the moment are DJ Fresh and DJ Euphoria. Muhammad Ali, who fought … car: Aston Martin – dream car! Food: Aunty Michelle’s sundried tomato and Mascarpone Trevor Berbick, who fought … soup TaTToos: Five in total – stars on my stomach and behind Iran Barkley, who fought … my ear, a saint (my father’s boxing alias) on my thigh, boxing gloves on my right hand, and a bulldog with boxing gloves on my right James Toney, who fought … inner forearm. t aThleTe: Lionel Messi. Movie: Troy. roy JoNes Jr. video GaMes: Halo 3 and Fight Night 4.

Images: Getty, Bongarts, Naoki Fukuda 18 the ring magazine - may 2013 A mOnThly

The besT and worsT in boxing from The pasT monTh BOxinG liST

Michael Rosenthal By: ThiS mOnTh: No American has held a major heavyweight GOOD title since June 2007, the end of Shannon Briggs’ reign as WBO titleholder. Here are the last 10 Americans to wear a I don’t buy Lamont Peterson’s excuse after major heavyweight belt (WBC, IBF, WBA or WBO). he tested positive for excessive amounts of testosterone following his fight against Amir Khan SHANNON BRIGGS: WBO, 2006-07 in 2011. The IBF junior welterweight titleholder said he had testosterone pellets implanted on the HASIM RAHMAN: WBC, 2005-06 advice of a doctor because he had low levels of the hormone. Doesn’t matter. He’s responsible LAMON BREWSTER: WBO, 2004-06 for what goes into his body. That said, the fact he enlisted the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association JOHN RUIz: WBA, 2004-05 – the same organization that busted him and the most stringent in the business – says a lot about ROY JONES JR.: WBA, 2003-04 his commitment to remain clean going forward. Peterson should be applauded for that. CHRIS BYRD: IBF, 2002-06

BAD HASIM RAHMAN: IBF and WBC, 2001 A British tabloid reported in early February that Muhammad Ali was near death, “news” that was JOHN RUIz: WBA, 2001-03 picked up and disseminated worldwide. The source was Ali’s brother, Rahman Ali, who was quoted as EVANDER HOLYFIELD: WBA, 2000-01 saying that “The Greatest” could die within days. Muhammad Ali’s wife quickly debunked the story, CHRIS BYRD: WBO, 2000 releasing a photo of her healthy-looking husband watching the Super Bowl. Rahman Ali later said his words were twisted even though it’s difficult to believe The Sun would make up quotes. What a mess. The lesson here? Muhammad Ali deserves better than a gruesome death watch. We all know he’s not well. Let’s enjoy the fact he remains with us and not hurry along his demise. A MONTHLY POLL OF OUR RINGTV.COM READERS.

WORSE Floyd Mayweather Jr. returns to the ring this spring. And it’s I was disappointed to receive letters from readers never too early to ask our readers what outcome they expect. who objected to Orlando Cruz winning our Most Thus, we queried: What will be the result of the Floyd Inspirational year-end award. Cruz became the first Mayweather Jr.-Robert Guerrero fght on May 4? Here are the results. boxer to acknowledge publicly that he’s gay, which we applauded by honoring him. We weren’t making THE PERCENTAGES: a judgment about his sexual orientation; that’s his business, not ours. We were acknowledging MAYWEATHER BY DECISION 52.1 the courage it took for Cruz to go public with something so personal – his way of saying “this is MAYWEATHER BY KO 17.8 who I am” – even though he knew he would open GUERRERO BY KO 16.5 himself to harsh criticism or even ridicule. The GUERRERO BY DECISION 12.3 overwhelming reaction was unqualified support DRAW 1.3 for him, which indicates how far our society has come. That some closed-minded fans have been left behind is sad. Note: 5,375 readers voted iN the poll.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 19

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 21 Image: Al Bello-Getty Zab Judah said Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s slickness and resilience made him the best overall fghter he ever faced. ZAB JUDAH

By: Mike Coppinger Now 35 and back at his more natural weight of 140, Judah’s next fght will take place on April 27 in ab Judah has fought most of the top names his hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y., where he will try to Z around his weight over the past 15 years. He earn the RING strap in a second division when he faces has lost most of his marquee fghts – including Danny Garcia. setbacks against Kostya Tszyu, Miguel Cotto and THE RING caught up with Judah (42-7, 29 Floyd Mayweather— but has usually given a good knockouts) at his gym in Las Vegas during preparation account of himself and was Mayweather’s toughest for the Garcia fight, which was originally slated for test since Jose Luis Castillo. Feb. 9 but was postponed because Garcia suffered a rib Judah’s most signifcant victory came in 2007 when he injury. knocked out Cory Spinks in their rematch to become the Judah revealed the best fghters he has faced in 10 key undisputed and RING welterweight champion. categories.

22 the ring magazine - may 2013 BEST OVERALL FLOyd MAywEAThER JR. His slickness and the way he is able to overcome things. I had Floyd early – I had him. He was able to get out of that. He’s not a hard puncher but he’s a volume puncher. He knows how to wear guys down. He adjusts well. But right up there with him is Mickey Ward. He’s a tough, tough, tough guy.

BEST BOXER CORy SpinkS And MAywEAThER Cory Spinks is a good fighter, but people don’t give Cory credit. He uses the jab good, the lateral movement. I was more physical (in the rematch). Heading into the frst fght, I didn’t realize how fast he was. He’s really hard to hit. For the second fght we made adjustments. When I hit him with the left hand (that ended the fght), his eyes rolled around in the back of his head. I saw the white part and was like, “Yo ref, look at him.”

BEST JAB Image: Frank Franklin II-Associated Press Zab Judah said he never faced a fghter physically stronger than AnThOny JOhnSOn Miguel Cotto, who stopped Judah in 11 rounds in 2007. It was an early fght and he probably doesn’t fght anymore [he fought only two times after facing Judah done something stupid, I probably would have got in 1997] but he could box. It took a while to get knocked out cold. around his jab; he had good lateral movement. He was in and out with his jab. Eventually I caught up FASTEST hAndS with him and knocked him out. He had a better jab SpinkS And MAywEAThER than Floyd. Floyd didn’t really have a good jab; he’s We knew going into the fght Cory had good hand better at setting traps. speed.

BEST dEFEnSE FASTEST FEET MAywEAThER MAywEAThER A lot of times he was right there, and when I went Floyd gets out of the way quick. He knows how to to hit him he was gone. He was like a genie; he kept use that ring, he knows how to move around. getting out of the way. You have to aim for his chest. SMARTEST BEST Chin MiCkEy wARd LuCAS MATThySSE He was really smart. He set me up for that body I hit him with some hard uppercuts and hooks and shot so sweet. He just kept setting me up, setting left hands – he took it. A lot of times I said to myself, me up, setting me up. He knew what to do in there, “OK, he’s about to go now,” and he just kept coming. but I overcame it. I was mad they left me out of the frst flm [laughs]. It would have put a damper on the BEST punChER movie. [Judah was referring to The Fighter.] MATThySSE He hit so hard, I didn’t want to turn my head and STROnGEST get hit with a punch I didn’t see, so I was like, “Let MiGuEL COTTO me go down.” [Judah took a knee in Round 10 of that Cotto was very physically strong on the inside. Very victory.] If I would have tried to fght him there and strong.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 23 THE BREAK UP

By: Brian Harty

ess than a week after Valentine’s Day, Floyd May- Lweather Jr. made two announcements. The frst, that he would fght Robert Guerrero on May 4, wasn’t a surprise. The second, however, was a doozy: Mayweather walked away from his seemingly unas- sailable marriage to HBO for a deal with Showtime (and parent company CBS) giving him as many as six pay-per-view fghts over a 30-month period. The move severed ties that stretched all the way back to 1996 when Mayweather emerged from the Olym- pics with a bronze medal and began his pro career. HBO televised his frst world title fght, against Genaro Hernandez in 1998 for the WBC junior lightweight belt, and all but one of the 25 victories that followed. It was Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promo- tions, who pushed the relationship metaphor as a way to describe the change: “Sometimes, after you’ve been in a long-term relationship, you’ll fnd yourself in another environment and you see someone else who makes it crystal clear to you what they see in you and why they want to be in a relationship with you, and they have all the credentials to prove themselves,” he told MLive.com. Image: Chris Trotman-Getty Sort of makes you wonder if someone broke the big Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s defection from HBO to Showtime had guy’s heart at some point. Of course, that tear in the the boxing world abuzz in February. corner of Ellerbe’s eye was more likely from the strain of holding back the dance spasms. The winning deal press release as potentially “the richest individual apparently involved some very large numbers. athlete deal in all of sports.” For it to fully reach that “We made an aggressive and responsible pay-per- potential, Mayweather will need to fght all six times view offer,” an HBO spokesman said. “Now we move in the 30-month span. That means he’d have to fght on.” twice as often: His last six fights were spread over Responsible! That’s where they screwed up. You more than 70 months. But Ellerbe said more action is can’t be responsible when it comes to romance. You exactly what Mayweather wants. gotta keep ‘em from looking over your shoulder during It does beg the question, though: Are there even six the slow dance. You gotta do crazy stuff, promise the worthy opponents out there? Maybe 2015’s biggest Moon. You gotta try really, really, really hard. pay-per-view will be Mayweather-Alvarez IV? What- “I want you to use all of these words,” Ellerbe told ever happens, Showtime is betting it will be worth it. Yahoo! Sports, “Showtime really, really, really, really, After all, Mayweather’s nine PPV events at HBO gar- really stepped up in what they offered Floyd.” (See? nered $543 million in revenue, and that was without a Showtime knows how to do it!) platform like CBS to promote. The details are secret, but keep in mind that May- As for you, HBO, hey, chin up. Plenty of fsh in the weather made $45 million fghting Miguel Cotto last sea. As the old formula goes: It takes half the length year, and it’s safe to assume that a pay cut wasn’t ac- of the relationship to get over it. By 2022 you’ll have ceptable. The contract was described in a Showtime forgotten all about this. n

24 the ring magazine - may 2013 TAKING A HIKE

By: Brian Harty

hile Floyd Mayweather left HBO for a bet- Wter offer, Manny Pacquiao took it to another level and threatened to leave the United States. Pacquiao said that recent income tax hikes for top-earners (from 35 to 39.6 percent) had made the idea of outsourcing himself appealing and that Hong Kong’s casino-fed neighbor, Macau, with its paltry 12 percent tax, would be a much less oppres- sive location for his next fght, which was originally planned for April. Recent Sinophile Bob Arum wor- ried that the move might mean as much as 50 per- Image: Victor Decolongon-Getty cent fewer pay-per-view buys, according to Yahoo! Manny Pacquiao might take his talents to a country in which he won’t lose as much in taxes as he does in the U.S. Sports. But then again, China has 1.37 billion people and the entire U.S. population can ft to the right of In Jakarta, Indonesia, 17-year-old junior fyweight that decimal point. Might the opportunity outweigh Tubagus Sakti died following an eigth-round TKO the loss of short-term earnings? Pacquiao’s manager, loss to Ichal Tobida (9-10, 7 KOs). The referee Michael Koncz, got more to the point: “We feel the stepped in when Sakti backed into a corner and raised real growth potential for Manny ... is going to be in his hands, but Tobida continued to punch and landed Asia,” he said. It won’t happen in April, though, be- three more clean head shots. Sakti collapsed soon af- cause the arena Arum wanted in Macau had already terward and was taken to a hospital, where the cause been booked by a Korean pop star. ... of death was determined to be a cerebral hemorrhage. His fnal pro record was 2-3-2 (1 KO). ... Following his one-sided loss to Carlos Molina, former junior middleweight and unifed welterweight The United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA) titleholder Cory Spinks called it a day. Born into the handed down a two-year suspension to Erik Morales boxing tradition of father Leon and uncle Michael, for his clenbuterol-positive drug tests leading up to Spinks’ career peaked in a rivalry with Zab Judah in the rematch with Danny Garcia in October. Morales 2004-05. He fnished at 39-8 (11 knockouts). ... basically shrugged it off, saying he didn’t plan to fght in the U.S. again anyway, and if he did, USADA had Michael Katsidis (28-6, 23 KOs), the Australian no authority to stop him. ... slugger known for his gladiator mindset in battles against many of the world’s top lightweights, also Lamont Peterson announced that in future fghts, announced his retirement following an unfavorable he’ll ask for the services of VADA (the ‘V’ stands for medical review. ... “voluntary”) over USADA. The statement was doubly remarkable because not only is VADA the organiza- Others throwing in the towel were Argentine former tion that popped Peterson for synthetic testosterone junior lightweight titleholder Jorge Barrios (50-4-1, in 2011, but also because he said it shortly after sign- 35 KOs) and Japanese lightweight Takehiro Shimada ing with Golden Boy Promotions, which has not had (27-6-1, 17 KOs). ... many kind words for VADA in the past. n

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 25 card girl of the month by heather Shanholtz

26 THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 ELLE NAVARRO Dave Alan Image:

HEIGHT: 5-foot-3 WEIGHT: 105 pounds MEASUREMENTS: 34-24-34 STANCE: Orthodox FAVORITE BOXER: Manny Pacquiao HOMETOWN: Oxnard, Calif. CURRENT LOCATION: Los Angeles WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HER: instagram/twitter/ facebook: @ElleNavarro, Corona girl for Golden Boy Boxing events, Lowrider, American Curves, Maxim, Show, Super Street magazine, Spocom Auto Show Spokesmodel BOOKING INFO: [email protected]

THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 27 Image: Dave Alan ELLE Dave Alan

NAVARRO Image:

THE RING CARD GIRL OF THE MONTH BY: HEATHER SHANHOLTZ

WWW.HEATHERSHANHOLTZ.COM | WWW.TWITTER.COM/HSHANHOLTZ | WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MODELHEATHER DO YOU WANT TO BE A RING CARD GIRL OF THE MONTH? submit photos and bio to [email protected] THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 29 fighter of the month | ratings analysis | pound-for-pound | the ring ratings

Image: Al Bello-Getty adrien Broner (right) overwhelmed gavin rees in another impressive performance. fighter of the month ADRIEN BRONER

By: michael rosenthal fght. The fact Broner ate him alive Ricky Burns? Richard Abril? Sharif after a few competitive rounds says Bogere? Good fighters all but, if he choice of Adrien Broner as a lot about the fast-rising star, who appearances are accurate, not quite TFighter of the Month was not won by knockout with one second in Broner’s league in terms of both a slam dunk. After all, oppo- remaining in the ffth round to re- ability and star power. nent Gavin Rees reportedly was as tain his WBC lightweight title. Thus, he probably will soon move much as an 80-1 underdog. Broner Broner has now stopped 16 of his up to junior welterweight and show was expected to dominate, which is last 17 opponents. us what he really has. Can he beat what ultimately happened. The fact is very few fghters could the likes of Danny Garcia, Lucas Still, we must step back and look even hope to cope with Broner’s Matthysse, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, at the facts: Rees is no boxing whiz combination of ability, speed and Juan Manuel Marquez and Bran- but he’s a very good fighter who power, particularly in his current don Rios? Rees would probably was rated No. 6 going into the weight class. Miguel Vazquez? say yes.

30 the ring magazine - may 2013 For period ending Feb. 18, 2013

Sam Soliman (right) scored a stunning upset over Felix Sturm in Sturm’s home country of Germany. Image: Dennis Grombkowski- Bongarts-Getty

POUND FOR POUND: No change. JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS: seal the gap, while once-defeated No change. Thai fighter Chonlatarn Piriyap- HEAVYWEIGHTS: Denis Boytsov inyo completed the list at No. 10. (No. 8 last month) ended his WELTERWEIGHTS: No change. 10-month hiatus with an unre- JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS: There markable eight-round decision JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS: Un- was a bit of a shuffle at 122 over an unremarkable opponent, defeated Canadian Dierry Jean pounds after unrated Colom- Samir Kurtagic. He switched stopped Juan Jesus Rivera in two bian Jonathan Romero won the places with Ruslan Chagaev (No. rounds, which by itself probably vacant IBF title with a split de- 9 last month) as a result. wouldn’t have gotten him rated, cision over Alejandro Lopez in but his recent activity has been Lopez’s hometown of Tijuana, CRUISERWEIGHTS: No change. good while No. 9 Cesar Cuen- Mexico. Romero took the No. ca’s hasn’t. Cuenca was dropped 10 spot from Victor Terrazas, LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS: No change. from the list, which elevated while essentially untested pros- Ruslan Provodnikov (No. 10 last pect Tomoki Kameda (No. 6 last SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS: month) and made room for Jean month) was dropped to No. 9. No change. at the bottom. Scott Quigg (No. 8 last month) leaped two spots to No. 6, past MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Felix Sturm LIGHTWEIGHTS: No change. Vic Darchinyan and Hozumi (No. 2 last month) lost a unani- Hasegawa. mous decision to unrated Aus- JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS: tralian Sam Soliman, in Sturm’s No change. BANTAMWEIGHTS: No change. home country of Germany no less. Based on that plus a previ- FEATHERWEIGHTS: Juan Manuel JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHTS: ous loss to No. 1 Daniel Geale Lopez (No. 6 last month) left No change. and some other squeaky-thin the division for heavier pastures, escapes, the Sturminator was debuting at 130 pounds with a FLYWEIGHTS: No change. kicked down to No. 8 and Soli- ninth-round TKO of Aldimar man entered the ratings at No. Silva Santos. Everyone from JUNIOR FLYWEIGHTS: 10. Celestino Caballero (No. 7 last No change. month) down to Javier Fortuna (No. 10 last month) moved up to STRAWWEIGHTS: No change.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 31 AS OF FEB. 18, 2013 FOR WEEKLY UPDATED RING RATINGS, GO TO RINGTV.COM

Sakio Bika (left) had little trouble with Nikola Sjekloca on Feb. 16, allowing him to maintain his spot in the super middleweight Top 10. Image: Naoki Fukuda

SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR UPDATED RATINGS AT RINGTV.COM.

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

32 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 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: for 18 months (even if he f ghts at another weight); 5. The Cham- 1. THE RING’s Nos. 1 and 2 contenders f ght one another; 2. If the pion does not schedule a f ght with a Top-5 contender from any Nos. 1 and 2 contenders chose not to f ght one another and either weight class for two years; 6. The Champion retires. of them f ghts No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, the winner may be awarded THE RING Ratings Chairman Chuck Giampa considers input THE RING belt if the Editorial Board deems the contenders worthy. from the Ratings Panel of boxing journalists from around the world A champion can lose his belt in six situations: 1. The Cham- but has f nal say on all changes. That applies to both the pound- pion loses a f ght in the weight class in which he is champion; 2. for-pound and divisional ratings. The 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 Champion does not schedule a f ght at his championship weight

THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 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 TOSHIYUKI IGARASHI C VACANT Japan | 17-1-1 (10 KOs) 1. ANSELMO MORENO 1. OMAR NARVAEZ 1. BRIAN VILORIA 1. ROMAN GONZALEZ Panama | 33-2-1 (12 KOs) Argentina | 38-1-2 (20 KOs) U.S. | 32-3-0 (19 KOs) Nicaragua | 34-0-0 (28 KOs) 2. SHINSUKE YAMANAKA 2. YOTA SATO 2. HERNAN MARQUEZ 2. DONNIE NIETES Japan | 23-0-1 (13 KOs) Japan | 26-2-1 (12 KOs) Mexico | 34-3-0 (25 KOs) Philippines | 31-1-3 (17 KOs) 3. LEO SANTA CRUZ 3. SURIYAN SOR RUNGVISAI 3. MORUTI MTHALANE 3. ADRIAN HERNANDEZ Mexico | 23-0-1 (13 KOs) Thailand | 24-5-1 (9 KOs) S. Africa | 29-2-0 (20 KOs) Mexico | 26-2-1 (16 KOs) 4. KOKI KAMEDA 4. JUAN CARLOS SANCHEZ JR. 4. SONNY BOY JARO 4. ULISES SOLIS Japan | 29-1-0 (17 KOs) Mexico | 15-1-1 (8 KOs) Philippines | 34-11-5 (24 KOs) Mexico | 35-2-3 (22 KOs) 5. MALCOLM TUNACAO 5. CARLOS CUADRAS 5. MILAN MELINDO 5. KAZUTO IOKA Philippines | 32-2-3 (20 KOs) Mexico | 27-0-0 (22 KOs) Philippines | 28-0-0 (11 KOs) Japan | 11-0-0 (7 KOs) 6. HUGO RUIZ 6. KOHEI KONO 6. ROCKY FUENTES 6. MASAYUKI KURODA Mexico | 31-2-0 (28 KOs) Japan | 28-7-0 (11 KOs) Philippines | 35-6-2 (20 KOs) Japan | 21-3-2 (13 KOs) 7. PUNGLUANG SOR SINGYU 7. TEPPARITH SINGWANCHA 7. JUAN CARLOS REVECO 7. KOMPAYAK PORPRAMOOK Thailand | 43-1-0 (28 KOs) Thailand | 21-3-0 (13 KOs) Argentina | 29-1-0 (16 KOs) Thailand | 49-4-0 (34 KOs) 8. JULIO CEJA 8. RYO AKAHO 8. EDGAR SOSA 8. JOHNRIEL CASIMERO Mexico | 24-0-0 (22 KOs) Japan | 19-1-2 (12 KOs) Mexico | 47-7-0 (28 KOs) Philippines | 17-2-0 (10 KOs) 9. RYOSUKE IWASA 9. RODEL MAYOL 9. LUIS CONCEPCION 9. RYOICHI TAGUCHI Japan | 13-1-0 (9 KOs) Philippines | 31-6-2 (22 KOs) Panama | 27-3-0 (20 KOs) Japan | 17-1-1 (8 KOs) 10. JAMIE MCDONNELL 10. OLEYDONG SITHSAMERCHAI 10. FROILAN SALUDAR 10. ALBERTO ROSSEL U.K. | 20-2-1 (9 KOs) Thailand | 46-1-1 (16 KOs) Philippines | 16-0-1 (11 KOs) Peru | 29-8-0 (13 KOs)

STRAWWEIGHTS WEIGHT LIMIT: 105 LBS

10. ROBERT GUERRERO U.S. | 31-1-1 (18 KOs) | WELTERWEIGHT Image: Naoki Fukuda

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 A boxer who is dropped also may be reinstated if the testing agency provides 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. 34 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 rATeD fIgHTerS by country

MExICO 29* RUSSIA UNITED STATES 25* UNITED kINGDOM 17 UNITED kINGDOM POLAND JAPAN 16 UkRAINE kAZAkHSTAN CANADA GERMANY RUSSIA 12 ARMENIA JAPAN

PHILIPPINES 11 UNITED STATES CUBA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PUERTO RICO THAILAND 7 MExICO PHILIPPINES CUBA 5 THAILAND NICARAGUA GERMANY 5 PANAMA INDONESIA SOUTH AFRICA 5 ARGENTINA 4 AUSTRAILIA SOUTH AFRICA AUSTRALIA 3 ARGENTINA CANADA 3 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 3 30 OR MORE 20 - 29 10 - 19 5 - 9 2 - 4 PANAMA 3 POLAND 3 BOxer fAcTOrIeS UkRAINE 3 JAPAN VS. ARMENIA 2 ASIAN rIVALS Where do the best American boxers come from? these INDONESIA 2 states have produced the 24 u.S. fghters rated by the Japanese have long been the dominant force in Asian tHE rInG, ranked by number of fghters. the states of kAZAkHSTAN 2 boxing, as the current rInG ratings bear out. However, boxers who have spent time in more than one area were NICARAGUA 2 fghters from the Philippines and thailand also have made determined primarily by where they were raised. note: their marks. Here is a division-by-division comparison of Floyd Mayweather Jr. is rated in two divisions. PUERTO RICO 2 rated fghters from the three Asian rivals. BULGARIA 1 6 California (Chris ArreolA, Andre WArd, DIVISION JAPAN PHIL. THAI. VAnes MArtirosyAn, robert Guerrero, CAMEROON 1 HEAVYWEIGHTS 0 0 0 tiMothy brAdley And Mikey GArCiA) COLOMBIA 1 CRUISERWEIGHTS 0 0 0 3 new York (Peter Quillin, PAulie MAliGnAGGi DENMARk 1 LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS 0 0 0 And ZAb JudAh) FINLAND 1 SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS 0 0 0 2 kansas (brAndon rios And ViCtor ortiZ) FRANCE 1 MIDDLEWEIGHTS 0 0 0 JAMAICA 1 2 MiChigan (Floyd MAyWeAther Jr. And JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS 0 0 0 Cornelius bundrAGe) MALAWI 1 WELTERWEIGHTS 0 1 0 NIGERIA 1 2 PennsYlvania (bernArd hoPkins, JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS 0 0 0 dAnny GArCiA) PERU 1 LIGHTWEIGHTS 0 0 0 ROMANIA 1 1 Colorado (Mike AlVArAdo) JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS 2 0 0 SLOVENIA 1 1 ConneCtiCut (ChAd dAWson) FEATHERWEIGHTS 0 0 1 SPAIN 1 JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS 2 1 0 1 florida (tAVoris Cloud) UGANDA 1 BANTAMWEIGHTS 3 1 1 1 hawaii (briAn ViloriA) UZBEkISTAN 1 JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHTS 3 1 3 1 Missouri (deVon AlexAnder) FLYWEIGHTS 1 4 0 1 nevada (dieGo MAGdAleno) *Includes two ratings for Floyd JUNIOR FLYWEIGHTS 3 2 1 Mayweather Jr. (junior middleweight, 1 new MexiCo (Austin trout) welterweight) and Juan Manuel STRAWWEIGHTS 2 1 1 Marquez (welterweight and junior 1 ohio (Adrien broner) welterweight). TOTALS 16 11 7 1 texas (JAMes kirklAnd)

Note: The country of fghters who have spent large portions of their lives in two countries was determined primarily by where they spent the bulk of their childhood.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 35 NOTE: THESE LISTS WERE COMPILED THROUGH FIGHTS AS OF FEB. 18, 2013

THE RING staff members’ current champions in the original eight weight classes. Our guest this month is Bob Velin, boxing writer with USA Today.

MICHAEL ROSENTHAL RING MAGAZINE EDITOR

HEAVYWEIGHT: WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: ANDRE WARD MIDDLEWEIGHT: SERGIO MARTINEZ WELTERWEIGHT: FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. LIGHTWEIGHT: ADRIEN BRONER FEATHERWEIGHT: NONITO DONAIRE BANTAMWEIGHT: ANSELMO MORENO FLYWEIGHT: BRIAN VILORIA

DOUG FISCHER RINGTV.COM EDITOR

LEM SATTERFIELD STAFF WRITER

BOB VELIN BOXING WRITER

HEAVYWEIGHT: WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: ANDRE WARD MIDDLEWEIGHT: SAUL ALVAREZ WELTERWEIGHT: FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. LIGHTWEIGHT: ADRIEN BRONER FEATHERWEIGHT: NONITO DONAIRE BANTAMWEIGHT: LEO SANTA CRUZ FLYWEIGHT: BRIAN VILORIA

Note: This is how the weights break down: Heavy- weight includes cruiserweight, light heavyweight in- Image: Stuart Franklin-Bongarts-Getty cludes super middleweight, all divisions middleweight Anselmo Moreno failed to take Abner Mares’ junior featherweight title but through f yweight include the “junior” versions, and remains the WBA bantamweight beltholder. f yweight also includes strawweight.

36 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013

COVER STORY

Oscar De La Hoya, who won a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics, remains a symbol of success for Mexican-American boxers. Image: Mark Duncan-Associated Press

38 tHe ring MAgAzine - MAy 2013

MEXICAN-AMERICAN BOXERS HAVE MADE THEIR MARKS FOR MORE‘IT’S THAN A CENTURY AND SHOW NO SIGNSOUR OF SLOWING DOWN IT’SHERITAGE’ OUR

By: Don Stradley

Victor Ortiz, John Molina Jr., Diego and he recent crowning of Mikey Garcia Jesse Magdaleno, Brian Vera, Sergio Mora,

as featherweight champion was the Raul Martinez, B.J. Flores, Carlos Molina, And latest chapter of a story reaching José Benavidez and more. Some of the top Tback to Oct. 4, 1897. That day saw female stars are Mexican-American. the f rst American woman to win an Olym- Solomon Garcia “Solly” Smith, a Califor- pic medal for boxing was Marlen Esparza, nia f ghter of Mexican descent, capture the who took home the bronze last summer in featherweight championship by defeating London. the great Canadian George Dixon over 20 Guerrero points to two likely spurs for rounds in San Francisco. Smith was the f rst the current prevalence: Oscar De La Hoya Mexican-American champion; Garcia, the and Michael Carbajal. De La Hoya’s suc- most recent. In between, Mexican-Ameri- cess, along with Carbajal popularizing the cans have proven to be one of the most en- lighter weight classes, “opened our eyes to during cultural groups in boxing. the opportunities out there,” Guerrero said. When asked about the relationship be- “Seeing them come from the Olympics with tween Mexican-Americans and the sport, medals was inspiring.” welterweight star Robert Guerrero spoke Mexican-Americans are one of the many as if describing an old romance that was ethnic groups in America to use boxing as impossible to forget yet diff cult to explain. a way to rise above their surroundings. It was obvious, he said, that Mexican- As former RING Editor Bert Randolph Americans belong in boxing. “It’s in our Sugar once wrote, “Many a troubled and DNA,” he said. He talked about the roots, troublesome youngster has embraced ‘The the colorful history, but what he described Sweet Science’ as a way out, a social stair- went beyond mere passion; it sounded like case out of the mean streets that formed a birthright. “It’s our heritage,” he said, as if his limited world, fighting his way, bloody no further clarif cation was needed. hand over bloody hand, up the ladder of Along with Garcia and Guerrero, today’s acceptance the only way he knows: with Mexican-American f ghters include Brandon his fists.” Rios, Mike Alvarado, Leo Santa Cruz, Mau- ricio Herrera, Chris Arreola, Jessie Vargas, THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 39 COVER STORY

Slugger Brandon Rios is one of the best in an exciting crop of Mexican-American f ghters. Image: Harry How-Getty

“I wanted to play baseball,” it. But boxing was always there Palomino was part of a Mex- said former WBC welterweight for us, especially the smaller ican-American phalanx of fight- titleholder Carlos Palomino, who guys. As an amateur fighter I ers in the 1960s and ’70s that came from Mexico to Los Ange- traveled the world, and I still felt included Mando Ramos, Bobby les as a child in the late 1950s. (discrimination). But if you could Chacon, Armando Muniz, Dan- “People discouraged me, saying fight as a professional, you had ny Lopez, Oscar “Shotgun” Al- Mexican-Americans never made it made.” barado and Raul Rojas, a former

40 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 gang member who told the Los Angeles Times, “All I ever was, SPOTLIGHT ON: ART ARAGON was tough; I figured I should put it to use.” These little gladiators “Golden Boy” Art Aragon never won a champion- rarely fought outside of Califor- ship but was always money in the bank for promot- nia, but they didn’t need to. ers. “Mexican-American fighters “He was such a character,” said Don Chargin. “A were the backbone of L.A. box- heck of a puncher. He made a mistake when he ing for years,” said Don Char- knocked out Enrique Bolanos, the favorite son of gin, for decades the matchmaker Mexicans, both here and in Mexico. When Aragon at the L.A. Olympic Auditorium (pictured on the left f ghting Vince Martinez) alongside promoter Aileen Eaton. knocked him out, the fans turned on him. From “The bitterest rivalry was when then on, they booed him something terrible. He a Mexican-American would fight didn’t care, he was all business. But he liked to someone from Mexico. That’s irritate people. For instance, Aragon could speak what we were after.” Chargin Spanish, but when a Mexican fan approached him, he’d still celebrates the memory of pretend he couldn’t understand, just to aggravate them. That was Aragon.” the 1970 bout between Man- Aragon was married four times, including once to 1950s Hollywood bombshell do Ramos and Sugar Ramos, a Mamie Van Doren. He acted in some movies. He allegedly took part in some f xed Cuban-Mexican. The Olympic f ghts. He didn’t always do the right thing, but he had a good time doing it. He re- was bursting with fans. “Aileen tired in 1960 with a record of 90-20-6 (62 knockouts). People attending Aragon’s thought they were going to tear funeral in 2008 broke into a humorous round of boos, just for old times’ sake. the place down. We also had five —Don Stradley theaters filled with people watching on closed-circuit TV, and Ai- leen projected the fight on the with pride, humility, intelligence side of the building, so the crowd and humor. They spoke English, outside could see it. Those were which gave them a marketable great days; the best years of my edge over their sometimes dour life.” Mexican counterparts. When De Along with being serious La Hoya stopped aging Mexican bangers, many Mexican-Ameri- icon Julio Cesar Chavez in four can fighters possessed a photo- gory rounds in 1996, he earned genic quality, dating back to the the WBC junior welterweight title 1950s prime of Vince Martinez and showed there was still life in and Art Aragon. “They had mov- the blood rivalry between Mexi- ie-star looks,” Chargin said. “Os- cans and Mexican-Americans. car De La Hoya wasn’t the first “It exists,” said Robert Gar- to bring out the female fans.” cia, co-trainer and older brother De La Hoya arrived at a time of Mikey. “Mexicans look at us when Mexican-American fighters Image: Holly Stein-Getty who don’t speak Spanish, and were still enjoying the embers of Michael Carbajal gave the lighter weight say, ‘Look at these white boys.’ classes an enormous boost with his the 1980s boxing boom. Carbajal thrilling style and success. But it is not as bad as it used to was earning historic paydays for be.” a 108-pounder, Tony Lopez had From Texas and California and “We’ve been given more respect engaged in several memorable New Mexico they came, with in the last 10 or 15 years,” added fights and Orlando Canizales names like Leija, Tapia, Romero, Guerrero. “After proving our- was enjoying an epic reign as the Ayala, Hernandez and Vargas. selves for so long, I think we are IBF bantamweight titleholder. They were solid technical box- accepted now with open arms.” Then, another new wave of Mex- ers with a profound willingness One reason Guerrero gives for ican-American fighters was upon to punch and be punched. They the continued success of Mexi- us, what Guerrero called “the big could project their personali- can-American fighters is a subtle splash.” ties to the audience. They came change in boxing styles.

THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 41 COVER STORY

Image: Naoki Fukuda Leo Santa Cruz (left, unloading on Victor Zaleta) is just beginning to make his mark.

“It’s not just the left hook to ter, fighting smarter.” at a banquet next to two old- the liver anymore,” Guerrero “We had to adapt,” Guerrero time fighters, Mushy Callahan said. “It is hard to put a gauge said. “Everybody loves to stand and Jimmy McLarnin. Mushy on what we will do. We are not toe to toe and bang it out, but said to me, ‘You’re the new so predictable. I credit the Mexi- now we’re jabbing more and champion, eh kid? How many can-American trainers for seeing throwing combinations; we can fights have you had?’ I said 23. things that we could add. They change it up.” He said, ‘Bah, they give title knew in order for us to survive, There are murmurs, though, shots to anybody now.’ See, ev- we couldn’t rely on the typical that the promotion of Mexican- ery generation thinks they came Mexican thing of standing in the American fighters is becoming up harder. But I do think today’s ring and trading punches.” too, well, American. Palomino Mexican-American fighters are “Mexican fighters love action,” feels they are being sheltered, a too protected. You can win a said Garcia, consecutive win- common enough feeling from an title, and still be a flash in the ner of THE RING Magazine’s older generation. pan.” Trainer of the Year honor. “With “I lost my first main event,” “The difference now is televi- Mexican-Americans, you might Palomino said with pride. “I sion,” said Chargin, who has see more counter punching and had some hard fights, but when served as an advisor for Golden defense. There have always been my title shot came against John Boy Promotions. “Back then, we great Mexican-American fighters. Stracey in London, I was ready. had small towns, where a fight- But I think they are getting bet- When I won, I remember sitting er could have 35 fights before

42 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 he got on television. You don’t have that anymore. The fight- GREAT PERFORMANCES ers in Mexico do it the old way, A complete list of memorable victories for Mexican-American fghters would fll starting out as babies and having an entire magazine. Here are 10 that stand out. 30 fights before anyone hears of them. But up here, Mikey Garcia and Leo Santa Cruz are already on TV with only 20 or so fights. They’ve won titles, but to me, they’re prospects.” Santa Cruz is one hell of a prospect, fighting five times in 2012, including a decision win over Vusi Malinga for the vacant RICHIE LEMOS KO 5 PETEY SCALZO Canizales wins a scorcher and takes the IBF IBF bantamweight title and a July 1, 1941, Los Angeles bantamweight title. He would go on to make fifth round stoppage of veteran Lemos defeats Scalzo for the NBA feather- 16 title defenses. Eric Morel. Those were his 21st weight championship, breaking a 54-year and 22nd bouts, respectively. The drought to become the frst Mexican-Ameri- TONY LOPEZ W 12 days of Bert Colima, a popular can titleholder since Solly Smith. ROCKY LOCKRIDGE Mexican-American fighter who July 23, 1988, Sacramento, Calif. retired in 1933 with 209 bouts, MANDO RAMOS KO 11 Tony “The Tiger” wins the IBF junior light- are long over. Mexican-American CARLOS TEO CRUZ weight title in THE RING’s Fight of the Year. Feb. 18, 1969, Los Angeles fighters of today have replaced Ramos, age 20, defeats Cruz to become the MICHAEL CARBAJAL KO 7 the tank town circuit with strong youngest lightweight champion in history. HUMBERTO “CHIQUITA” GONZALES amateur careers, gaining experi- March 13, 1993, Las Vegas ence without being at the mercy BOBBY CHACON W 15 RAFAEL LIMON IBF junior fyweight titleholder Carbajal of small-time promoters. And (PICTURED ABOVE) comes off the canvas twice to stop WBC if the rush to television seems Dec. 11, 1982, Sacramento, Calif. titlist Gonzalez in seven rounds. It is the frst quick, the rewards are hard to Chacon wins the WBC junior lightweight title bout of a trilogy, unifes two junior fyweight resist. in a rousing bout that was chosen as THE titles and is selected as THE RING’s Fight of RING’s Fight of the Year. Chacon also earned the Year. This was the same year Carbajal “There’s much more money THE RING’s Comeback of the Year honors. became the frst Mexican-American to win now,” Garcia said, almost in awe His frst defense, a win over Cornelius Boza THE RING’s Fighter of the Year award. of the paychecks brother Mikey Edwards, would be THE RING’s Fight of The has received for his HBO ap- Year in 1983. PAULIE AYALA W 12 pearances. “I couldn’t even imag- JOHNNY TAPIA ine that kind of money when I RICHIE SANDOVAL KO 15 June 26, 1999, Las Vegas fought. It was unheard of.” JEFF CHANDLER In a battle of Mexican-Americans, Ayala March 15, 1984, Atlantic City, N.J. outpoints Tapia to win the WBA bantam- “Everything has gotten bigger, Underdog Sandoval scores a surprising vic- weight title. It is the frst of two memorable not only for Mexican-American tory over the great Chandler to win the WBA bouts between the pair, helps Ayala earn THE fighters, but for trainers, too,” bantamweight title. RING’s Fighter of the Year award and is THE Guerrero said. “No doubt, it’s a RING’s Fight of the Year. great time. It’s also a great time STEVE CRUZ W 15 BARRY MCGUIGAN for Mexican-Americans as a June 23, 1986, Las Vegas DIEGO CORRALES KO 10 people. It is amazing to see us all Cruz scores a major upset, knocking popular JOSE LUIS CASTILLO growing at once.” McGuigan down twice in the last round to May 7, 2005, Las Vegas win a 15-round unanimous decision. Cruz Corrales did his Mexican mother proud by But when ethnic groups find wins the WBA featherweight title, and the stopping Castillo in 10 to win the lightweight success in America, they tend to bout is chosen as THE RING’s Fight of the championship. The bout is an all-time classic frown on bleeding for a living. Year. and THE RING’s Fight of the Year. Round 10, Don’t they? which saw Corrales dropped twice only to “The Irish and the Italians are ORLANDO CANIZALES KO 15 KELVIN rise and stop Castillo along the ropes, was no longer a big part of boxing,” SEABROOKS THE RING’s Round of the Year. Corrales’ father Chargin said. “There are cer- July 9, 1988, Atlantic City, N.J. was from Colombia. tainly fewer black fighters now.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 43 Robert Guerrero’s hard-fought victory over Andre Berto and his date with Floyd Mayweather Jr. might make him the top active Mexican-American fghter. Image: Naoki Fukuda

“Everything has gotten bigger, not only for Mexican-American fighters, But boxing is in the Mexican but for trainers, too. ... blood, you know? Also, there are not many sports where smaller It’s also a great time for kids can excel, and most of the Mexican-Americans as a Mexican-American kids are in the lighter divisions. They aren’t people. It is amazing to see going to leave boxing to play us all growing at once.” for the New York Knicks.” As Guerrero put it, perhaps refer- — Robert Guerrero ring to the massive immigration from Mexico to the U.S. in recent years, “There may be even more Mexico at the 2004 Olympics. America didn’t. Everyone en- of us in the future.” Garcia, meanwhile, believes joys a good scrap, Garcia feels, Still, Palomino senses “a change Mexican-American boys will but in Mexico boxing takes on in the barrio,” with Mexican- always be lured into boxing for an almost sacred atmosphere. American families steering their various reasons. “Mexican-American kids are sons away from boxing and into “Soccer is popular, but boxing always going to know about soccer. The future, Palomino pays better,” Garcia said. “It’s the tradition, because we are so guesses, may see more fighters difficult to have a career in pro- close to Mexico,” Garcia said. straddle the line between the fessional soccer; those players “It is a beautiful thing we have, two countries, such as Abner come from universities. You need Mexicans in two countries. But Mares, who has conducted his a little money to get there.” Mexico has a lot of poverty, and entire pro career in the U.S. but Garcia also proposes that Mex- that’s where fighters come from.” doesn’t consider himself “Mexi- icans love boxing in a way that It is bittersweet, this notion can-American” and represented perhaps other ethnic groups in that We will always be poor, so

44 the ring magazine - may 2013 we will always fight, for boxing is no safeguard against hardship. SPOTLIGHT ON: MANUEL ORTIZ For every Juan Diaz who leaves boxing to become a lawyer, there It’s diff cult to pick the greatest Mexican-American f ghter of them all, are many sad tales: Chacon’s but one could make a strong case for Manuel Ortiz of Corona, Calif. At life has been tragic, and Johnny age 20, with no experience, Ortiz was plucked out of an audience to f ll Tapia could never tame his de- in for a missing f ghter at an amateur show. Ortiz won and decided to mons; Ramos struggled with pursue the sport full-time. On Aug. 7, 1942, he won recognition as the drugs and alcohol, as did De La bantamweight champion by beating Lou Salica over 12 rounds. Hoya; Tony Ayala Jr. couldn’t Ortiz made 20 title defenses spread out over two stay out of trouble; Alberto Da- reigns, and had time for numerous non-title bouts, vila suffered the horror of kill- including a jump to featherweight to face legendary ing an opponent, Kiko Bejines; champion Willie Pep. Ortiz failed against Pep, but that and Richie Sandoval was nearly was his only loss in a 46-f ght stretch from 1941 killed in a bout with fellow Mex- to 1946. Ortiz made eight title defenses in 1943, a ican-American Gaby Canizales. single-year record that is not likely to be broken. “Corky” Gonzales, a fine feath- By the time of his retirement in 1955, Ortiz had erweight of the 1950s who be- posted a record of 100-28-3 (54 knockouts). He came a leader in the Chicano died in 1970 and was inducted into the International movement, described the stark Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996. He is one of the few truth of boxing in his ambitious Mexican-Americans enshrined in Canastota, N.Y. 1967 poem, “I Am Joaquin”: —Don Stradley

I bleed as the vicious gloves of hunger Marlen Esparza, an Olympic bronze cut my face and eyes, medalist, proved as I fight my way from stinking that the Mexican- barrios American tradition to the glamour of the ring doesn’t end with the men. and lights of fame Image: Scott Heavey-Getty or mutilated sorrow.

Such a severe outlook may feel overdramatic in 2013, especially when Mexican-American fighters are making more money, earning acceptance from Mexican fans and appearing on TV. Jose Ramirez, the amateur sensation who just turned pro, recently signed a major endorsement deal with Nike. The exact details weren’t reported, but Ramirez, with one pro bout to his credit, is probably collecting more money for modeling footwear than Solly Smith ever saw in his dreams. “That’s why I encourage my guys to fight smart,” Garcia said. “They have great opportunities now, so I want them to last.” ■

THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 45 COVER STORY

Image: Naoki Fukuda Mikey Garcia, f anked by co-trainers Eduardo Garcia (his father) and Robert Garcia (his brother), brings a formidable combination of ring smarts and controlled aggression to the ring.

MIKEY GARCIA’S COMBINATION OF KNOW-HOW AND KILLER INSTINCT ‘A’ COULD TURN HIM INTO A STAR STUDENT OF THE GAME

By: Norm Frauenheim

46 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 ust when it looked as if white hats were vanishing in a world dressed up in black, Mikey Garcia showed up in one. He wore it J like the sheriff he might become. Good guys are harder to fnd than stars are these days. It’s almost impossible to fnd both beneath one hat. Yet, there they were, one rare mix in what appeared to be a perfect ft, when Garcia stepped into Madison Square Garden in a Western-style hat that refected lights off white felt as bright as a future beginning to unfold after his victory over Orlando Salido on Jan. 19. The featherweight fght ended prematurely, or at least it did from the perspective of a crowd and HBO audience suddenly awakened to Garcia’s varied skill set. It was described as somehow unsatisfying. The technical part of the decision was seen as an asterisk, a blemish on an otherwise spotless record (31-0, 26 KOs). For some, it left questions about how Garcia would react when confronted by rising tides of ad- versity. OK, a knockout would have been more defnitive than a technical decision after eight rounds because of a head butt that left Garcia with a fractured nose. Yeah, four more rounds of Garcia’s dominance might have provided a more thorough examination Image: Naoki Fukuda of a fghter as comfortable in the champion’s role as Mikey Garcia (left) followed in the footsteps of his brother, he is in that new hat. Even Garcia seemed frustrated, former junior lightweight titleholder Robert Garcia. almost as if the result was more of an interruption than a conclusion. a former junior lightweight titleholder with an im- What passes for criticism, however, might actually pressive record (37-3, 25 KOs), is the 2012 Train- be something else. Listen carefully. It sounds a lot er of the Year. Their father and Mikey’s co-trainer, like an appetite for more. Eduardo, was an amateur boxer and Fernando Var- “I think over the eight or nine rounds, the world gas’ trainer. An uncle, Daniel Garcia, trained Victor fnally got a chance to see my qualities and abili- Ortiz. Robert and Daniel feuded for a while. But if ties,” said 25-year-old Garcia, who has been healing there’s anything new about that, you don’t know the from post-fght surgery for a nose so busted up it Mayweathers. was diffcult to breathe. “They saw the fghter I am. A surprise, perhaps, is that Mikey ever put on a The ending probably does take away a little bit from pair of gloves. Not long ago, Robert foresaw him in the feeling and happiness I would have experienced a different trade, perhaps law or academics or any- had the fght gone all 12 rounds or had I stopped thing that didn’t include a cut man. But boxing? him. But in those rounds, everybody got to see the “Probably not,” said Robert, who turned 38 on kind of fghter that I am. Jan. 29. “When I was fghting, Mikey wasn’t even “Expect the world to see a lot more of me.” in the gym. Mikey started boxing at 14 and never It’s as if most of Garcia’s early life prepared him wanted to. I saw my brother doing other stuff. He’s for much more in what could be a long stay at the very smart, so I thought he was going to be doing top of a chaotic game full of more interim titles than something else.” enduring success. Mikey stepped through the ropes and into the fam- He grew up in a family that spends as much time ily business almost as if it were a backyard pick-up in the ring as it does in the kitchen. At the dinner game. He accompanied his family to see a nephew, table, the Garcias could have a pretty good pound- Xavier, fght at an amateur smoker in Canoga Park, for-pound debate about who is No. 1 in the family. Calif. A kid on the card didn’t have an opponent. Older brother and Mikey’s trainer, Robert Garcia, Mikey volunteered.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 47 COVER STORY

Image: Hunter Martin-Getty Garcia has knocked out 26 of his 31 opponents, including Matt Remillard in 10 rounds in March 2011.

“We told him, Mikey, you tering, studying and observing trains both. They have the same haven’t even trained,” Robert re- when guys get hurt.” manager, Cameron Dunkin. called. It’s no accident that Garcia has a “Nonito and I don’t ever discuss Didn’t win, either. complement of physical gifts that f ghting each other,” Mikey said. But Robert detected ability, allow him to execute plans based “I just focus on what I’m doing perhaps learned or maybe in his on his observations. There’s speed and his focus is on what he’s do- DNA. And Mikey quickly discov- in Garcia’s footwork. He throws ing.” ered that he liked the give, take beautiful left hooks while moving Still, there are enough challenges and tactics that had surrounded from side to side and backward in at 126 and 130 pounds to test the him for as long as he could re- a tactical dance that in some ways Jones-like promise that was evi- member. They returned to Ox- is reminiscent of Roy Jones Jr. dent in January. In a brilliant bit of nard where Mikey left the play- The Jones parallel might be seen matchmaking by Top Rank’s Bruce ground and went to the gym, now as a reach by some. Above all, it Trampler, Salido might have been Robert Garcia’s Boxing Academy. still needs to be tested against, the perfect fall guy for Garcia. Sali- For him, much of the challenge say, a Yuriorkis Gamboa. For do, an archetypal tough guy known was and still is cerebral. That gym now, there seems to be no chance for two knockouts of Juan Manuel was a classroom. of Garcia vs. junior featherweight Lopez, understands only one direc- “What I enjoy the most is the champion Nonito Donaire. tion: forward, ever forward and al- technical part,” he said. “Coun- They’re friends. Robert Garcia ways in a straight line.

48 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Do the geometry and calculate the physics. If fghts are in fact dictated by style, Salido was the perfect opponent to illuminate Garcia’s mix of mobility, power and know-how. Garcia was the spinning top, the perpetual motion that Salido couldn’t corner or counter while running into punches that put him on the canvas four times within the frst four rounds. Can Garcia be hit? Yeah, it looks as if he can. But don’t blink or look away because his feet are moving, already taking him out of harm’s way and leading a more single-minded foe into another trap Image: Naoki Fukuda Garcia’s wide variety of ring Garcia’s demolition of Orlando Salido (left) was the biggest step yet in his bright career. skills looks as if it’s an expres- sion of a student who likes to might have shown while holding ment. He went to the Ventura Coun- read textbooks as much as he up a world title belt. ty (Calif.) Police & Sheriff Reserves does an opponent’s eyes and body “I never thought of the sport as a Academy for a six-month course. He language. He has an associate’s career,” said Mikey, who grew up graduated three years ago. Cops, he degree from Oxnard Community watching Oscar De La Hoya, Mike said, always fascinated him as much College, where he was an honors Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Vargas as boxers. He recalls them visiting student. In a 2011 profle on him and his older brother fght on tele- his elementary school and talking to for ABC’s American Latino, he sat vision in some of the best bouts of classes about what their jobs were on a ring apron and displayed a their era. “I just saw it as something I like. A badge, he says, is as valuable certifcate he won for being on the was interested in.” as a title. It also lasts a lot longer than Dean’s List with all the pride he Other interests include law enforce- any title reign.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. RICARDO “FINITO” LOPEZ JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ His ability, his skills. He’s He was a very good counter- Marquez is similar to Lopez. so smart. He knows what puncher, very heavy handed. He’s more aggressive now but he needs to do to win. Punches don’t have to be when he was a featherweight You can’t hit the guy, you thrown from a long distance to he was a very good counter- MIKEY’S can’t touch him. How can have good power behind them. puncher. I think he fgured he MOST you beat a guy like that? You can connect with a short had to become more aggres- He can hit you any time uppercut or hook and have sive to make money. And he ADMIRED he wants, he can stand in good power. I don’t think many made more money for sure. He Mikey Garcia is a front of you, and you still remember (Lopez) because he was able to get bigger fghts. student of boxing can’t hit him. When he was so little. I saw the last few When he was a featherweight … and boxers. He moves around, people say fghts of his career and have no one wanted to give him a was asked by THE he’s running. Whatever. seen some tapes of him. The title shot. I honestly prefer that RING to name three I’ve always thought he was guy was great. The guy could Marquez. A great counter- fghters he admires the best. Mayweather. He’s counterpunch you. And when puncher. and why. Here is amazing at what he does. he did, you fell down. – Michael Rosenthal what he said.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 49 COVER STORY

Then there are life lessons that are part and parcel of everything that goes into a law-enforcement education. It teaches poise and patience. Don’t let emotion get in the way or give you away. Garcia didn’t during his methodical beat down of Salido and throughout his restrained celebration of the victory during the post-f ght pro- ceedings. What’s taught at the Police Academy, he said, is valuable in a lot places, including the ring. Those classes taught him things not always learned in sparring. “In my case, the way you read a suspect is the way you read an opponent,” he said. “That helped me. I’m very good at that. You see a person, and you read their eyes, and you read their body language. You look to see if they’re jumpy and they’re jittery and they’re looking around like a suspicious person. Are they nervous in the way that they speak and how they’re standing? Are they guarded?” Out of respect perhaps for class- mates who are cops today, Garcia is quick and careful to say that he isn’t one. “I’m just being a boxer,” he said But not just another boxer. Sometime in late spring, he hopes to unify the 126-pound title. Then a jump in weight up to 130 pounds looms as a possibility. It’s only a guess as to whether the heavier weight might lead to Gamboa. It’s no secret that Gar- cia-Gamboa is one of the f ghts that have landed on the long list of those that fans want to see, yet often don’t. Juan Manuel Lopez is pretty big,” Garcia said. “He just body, if it was up to me, I would another possibility. Lopez is back fought, so he wants to get back go after Yuriorkis Gamboa. He’s in the mix after a comeback vic- into the championship league undefeated and he vacated the ti- tory over Aldimar Silva Santos on again, so it would def nitely be tle in our featherweight division. Feb. 2 in Puerto Rico. Both are a good f ght. But it’s really up to So, yeah, I would love to go after promoted by Top Rank. my manager and my promoter to him.” “A f ght with Lopez would be decide that. But like I tell every- Whatever happens, it’s safe to

50 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Salido (right) had a style that suited Garcia’s counterpunching mentality but the Mexican certainly was no pushover. Image: Naoki Fukuda

say that Garcia won’t stand still and it doesn’t work out, I think and when to do it. for long. If he isn’t moving across he’ll just say, ‘Hey, I gave it my best “You’ve got to pay attention canvas, he’s moving through life. shot. No regrets.’” to the little details,” said Garcia, “Boxing was never his main Then, perhaps, Garcia will wear who is suddenly getting big atten- goal,” Robert Garcia said. “He’s that white hat into another fght, tion in the one world he knows doing his job. He’s just basically with the same trained eye that can better than any in his diverse uni- graduating. If he does lose a few get a quick read on what to do verse. n

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 51 COVER STORY THE

BEST THE TOP ACTIVE MEXICAN-AMERICAN BOXERS, ACCORDING TO RINGTV.COM EDITOR DOUG FISCHER.

ine Mexican-American boxers are rated by THE NRING. That’s more than the total number of f ghters from all but six countries, which is a testament to the deep-seeded boxing tradition of this ethnic group. Fighters such as brawler Brandon Rios, tough guy Robert Guerrero, young star Mikey Garcia and body banger Leo Santa Cruz are among the best and most- entertaining in their divisions and appear to be ALL-TIME TOP 10 on the rise. And there MEXICAN- are many more where AMERICANS they came from. Robert Guerrero 1. Oscar De La Hoya But who’s the best of 1 31-1-1, 18 KOs 2. Manuel Ortiz the bunch? Doug Fischer, Editor 3. Bobby Chacon The 29-year-old veteran is unbeaten 4. Johnny Tapia of RingTV.com, agreed since his lone split decision loss to 5. Danny Lopez to rank the 10 best ac-

6. Michael Carbajal tive Mexican-American current 130-pound beltholder Gamaliel Images: Naoki Fukuda, Getty, Hoganphotos and AFP 7. Genaro Hernandez boxers. He also provid- Diaz in 2005. Since then, he’s climbed 8. Orlando Canizales ed a list of 10 up-and- to the top of four weight classes: 9. Jesse James Leija comers to watch, tal- featherweight (where he won the IBF 10. Mando Ramos ented young boxers who title twice), junior lightweight (where he represent the next wave lifted the IBF belt), lightweight (where of Mexican-Americans. he punished Michael Katsidis) and And, f nally, in a nod to the great f ghters of the past, welterweight (where he bested Andre he provided his list of the 10 best Mexican-American Berto in a war). boxers of all time. Let the debates begin.

52 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 3 Brandon Rios 31-0-1, 23 KOs

Garcia, the younger brother of former beltholder and Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia, remained unbeaten with a dominating eight- round technical decision over THE RING’s No. 1-rated featherweight Orlando Salido in January. The 25-year-old counterpunching technician looked like the total package lifting the rugged Mexican’s WBO belt while earning the vacant 2 RING title. Miguel Angel 4 “Mikey” Garcia 31-0, 26 KOs Leo Santa Cruz 23-0-1, 13 KOs Garcia, the younger brother of former beltholder and Santa Cruz, 24, held the Trainer of the Year Robert IBF bantamweight title Garcia, remained unbeaten he won by outpointing with a dominating eight- Vusi Malinga last June round technical decision for only six months but over THE RING’s No. 1-rated made the most of his brief featherweight Orlando reign, defending it three Salido in January. The times, including a TKO of 25-year-old counterpunch- Eric Morel. The unbeaten ing technician looked like pressure fghter isn’t slick the total package lifting the but he’s the busiest body rugged Mexican’s WBO belt puncher in the sport and while earning the vacant should be a player at RING title. junior featherweight.

THE ring magazinE - aPriL 2013 COVER STORY 6 Victor Ortiz 29-4-2, 22 KOs

The talented but quirky former welterweight titleholder’s career is marked by extreme highs (his title-winning victory over Berto) and lows (stoppages against Marcos Maidana and Josesito Lopez) with a dash of the bizarre (TKO against Floyd Mayweather), but he’s seldom in a boring f ght. Despite the setbacks, Ortiz, 26, he remains a compelling f gure in the sport. 5 7 Chris Arreola 35-2, 30 KOs Josesito Lopez 30-5, 18 KOs The 31-year-old heavyweight contender scored The only decisive loss of the impressive victories over 28-year-old veteran’s career prospects and faded vets is his f fth-round stoppage on his way up but fell short against WBC 154-pound when he faced world-class titleholder Saul Alvarez, opposition, WBC titleholder who was simply too big and Vitali Klitschko in 2009 and strong for the hardnosed Tomasz Adamek in 2010. boxer-brawler to compete He has won seven consecu- with. Lopez, who has stop- tive bouts since the Adamek page victories over Ortiz loss and will earn another and Mike Dallas Jr., is still a title shot if he beats Ber- major factor at junior welter- mane Stiverne on March 9. weight and welterweight. 8 10 Jessie Vargas Diego Magdaleno 21-0, 9 KOs 23-0, 9 KOs

The 23-year-old welter- The 26-year-old junior lightweight has won 21 con- weight, who has outpointed secutive fghts since turning solid prospects Josenilson pro in 2010, including a Dos Santos and Alejandro frst-round stoppage of for- Perez, will pit his technique, mer 140-pound titleholder tenacity and southpaw savvy Vivian Harris, a decision over against WBO beltholder Ro- former welterweight title man Martinez in his frst title challenger Steve Forbes and shot on April 6. a razor-thin split decision over Josesito Lopez. The former Roger Mayweather disciple, who’s now trained by Robert Alcazar, faces fellow unbeaten prospect Wale Omotoso on March 16. 9

Mike Alvarado 33-1, 23 KOs

Alvarado, 33, won his frst 33 bouts – including victories over junior middleweight contender Carlos Molina (MD 8), former lightweight titleholder Cezar Bazan (KO 4) and fringe contenders Ray Narh (TKO 3), Breidis Prescott (TKO 10) and Mauricio Herrera (UD 10) – before his Fight- of-the-Year candidate clash with Rios. The strong technical brawler faces Rios again on March 30.

10 up-and-comers (In alphabetical order) Chris Avalos, Jose Benavides, Joel Diaz, Joseph Diaz Jr., Omar Figueroa Jr., Frankie Gomez, Jesse Magdaleno, Jose Ramirez, Ronny Rios and Gabino Saenz.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 55

feature

“You always think of yourself as the best you ever were. That’s human nature.” — Sugar Ray Leonard

Image: THE RING Sugar Ray Leonard, meeting the canvas against Hector Camacho, had two too many fghts.

BOXING RETIREMENTS ARE MOSTLY A SERIES OF INTERRUPTED FAREWELLS By: Bernard Fernandez

58 the ring magazine - may 2013 Rocky Marciano (right) was smart. The unbeaten heavyweight champ retired shortly after defeating Archie Moore in 1955 and never returned. Image: THE RING

ike aging singers who periodically announce that ly successful people think. Everyone thinks that way. Ltheir current concert tour absolutely marks their “Most guys come back for money. They need an- fnal public appearance, then return a year later other payday, and there are people around them feed- like swallows to Capistrano, boxing farewells tend ing their egos, telling them how good they still are, to be transitory things. More often than not, they are because they want a piece of the action. Maybe they written in wet sand, not fast-drying cement. come back because they really don’t know anything Fighters who tell us they are quitting the ring prob- but boxing, and they’re apprehensive about entering ably aren’t blatantly lying, but the suspicion is that the next phase of their lives that doesn’t include it. their hearts aren’t as certain as their words might sug- “But even if money is not an issue, and you have gest. For many professional punchers – rich or poor, other options, you never lose that belief in yourself as celebrated champions or disposable prelim guys – “re- a fghter, particularly if you’ve been to the very top of tirement” merely represents an interrupted series of the mountain. (Being retired) eats at you. It’s hard to goodbyes. fnd anything else that can give you that high. Once “You always think of yourself as the best you ever you accomplish what I did against Marvin (Hagler), were. That’s human nature,” said the legendary Sugar you tell yourself, ‘I did it before, I can do it again.’ I Ray Leonard, 56, who walked away from boxing fve felt that way about Muhammad Ali when he fought times and made a U-turn following the frst four of Larry Holmes. I had so much belief in Ali because those pronouncements. “And that’s not just how high- of all the miraculous things he’d done, like going to

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 59 3 COMEBACKS THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL …

SUGAR RAY LEONARD Leonard had already “retired” twice when he decided to come back after a three-year hiatus to face the great Marvin Hagler on April 6, 1987 in Las Vegas. A surprisingly sharp Sugar Ray, only 30 at the time, made boxing history and claimed the world middleweight championship by winning

a disputed split decision. Image: Alexander Hassenstein-Bongarts-Getty Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, who retired after a brutal f ght against Vitali GEORGE FOREMAN Klitschko (right), considered a comeback but thought better of it. Foreman “retired” in Africa and beating George Foreman. But gone away or allowed his steely competi- 1977 after losing a that Ali didnÕt exist anymore by the time tive drive to soften. B-Hop is, to Leon- decision to Jimmy Young he fought Holmes. ardÕs way of thinking, Òan anomaly, like and having a religious ÒThe reason I came back those last George Foreman was an anomaly. What experience in his dress- couple of times was because I was not those guys did is freakinÕ amazing.Ó ing room, which led him happy. I was dying inside. The only place Not every wishful-thinking retired to become a minister. He I felt truly comfortable and relaxed was standout is fortunate enough to jump returned in 1987, fought in the ring. I needed that safety net. But back into boxing and push that enve- himself into shape and at some point you have to face up to lope even farther without it tearing, became the oldest (at 45) whatever problems you might have and sometimes disastrously so. Former ju- to win the heavyweight deal with them. Nine times out of 10, itÕs nior welterweight titlist Ricky ÒThe Hit- title when he stopped disastrous if you continue to push the manÓ Hatton said he was through with Michael Moorer on Nov. envelope. If youÕve been out of the life the fight game after he was the victim 5, 1994 in Las Vegas. a long time, you become too civilized. of an emphatic, one-punch knockout ThatÕs not necessarily a bad thing, but by Manny Pacquiao on May 5, 2009, VITALI KLITSCHKO you can lose that edge, that total com- which came 17 months after he was The elder Klitschko broth- mitment every f ghter needs. And thatÕs on the wrong end of a more sustained er “retired” in 2005 after what made me and champions like me 10-round beatdown by Floyd Mayweath- various injuries scuttled great in the f rst place.Ó er Jr. But Hatton, as is the case with so four scheduled f ghts with LeonardÕs views are even more pre- many others, again got an itch that re- Hasim Rahman. However, scient in light of recent developments. quired scratching, and he was slammed with his wounds healed, Oh, sure, Bernard Hopkins is still f ght- upside the head by reality nearly as hard he returned to win the ing at a high level at 48, the rare and as Pacquiao had drilled him in losing by WBC heavyweight title by most obvious exception to the natural ninth-round stoppage to a quality oppo- stopping Sam Peter in his laws of diminishing returns. But with nent, Vyacheslav Senchenko, on Nov. 24 f rst f ght back. Klitschko the exception of a brief retirement after of last year. is 10-0 in his comeback his 2006 conquest of Antonio Tarver, ÒI am really heartbroken É just gut- (with seven knockouts) Hopkins has fought nearly continuously ted,Ó Hatton, 34, said of his inability to and has barely lost a since his pro debut way back on Oct. 11, summon past glories. ÒI suppose that is round. 1988. He hasnÕt had to launch multiple what 3½ years out of the ring does. That comebacks because he never really has is not how my career should end, but a

60 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 fghter knows when it isn’t there any- brings,” Leonard said during the lead- … AND 3 more and I know it now. It’s too many up to the Camacho fight. “My ego is THAT WEREN’T hard fights. I’ve burned the candle at what made me who I am.” Afterward, both ends; I’ve put my body through he admitted, as Hatton more recently JOE LOUIS the mire in and out of the ring. I have to did, that “there comes a point in every- Louis was no longer a be a man and say, ‘It’s the end of Ricky one’s life when you just have to accept great heavyweight when Hatton.’” the fact that you don’t have it anymore. he “retired” in 1949. Or maybe not. It is hardly inconceiv- “It’s funny how the good memories However, beset by chronic able that Hatton, after a suffcient pe- stick with you longer,” he continued. fnancial problems, he riod of rest and recuperation, could dare “Human nature, I suppose. I could al- returned at 36 after a two- to believe he might regain something ways tell in the dressing room, when I year hiatus only to be out- akin to the best of his previous form. was warming up, if it was going to be a classed by Ezzard Charles. Leonard twice had layoffs of three or good night or a long night. If you don’t He then defeated marginal more years, with markedly different re- feel like you have it that night, it is the opponents before Rocky sults. After being foored and extended most frightening feeling for a fghter. I Marciano brutally stopped by journeyman Kevin Howard, whom felt that way against Hector. I felt the him in eight rounds in he eventually stopped in nine rounds on same thing before the first (Roberto) 1951. Louis never fought May 11, 1984, he was a vintage Sugar Duran fght, before the second (Thom- again. Ray again on April 6, 1987, scoring a as) Hearns fght, before the fght with split decision over the heavily favored Terry Norris. Fighters know when they SUGAR RAY LEONARD Hagler. But the old magic had mostly have it. They know. When I was younger Leonard decided after six vanished when Leonard dropped a one- and I had those little moments of doubt, years out of the ring – and sided unanimous decision to Terry Nor- which were rare, I was usually able to at 40 years old – to face ris on Feb. 9, 1991, and the drop-off overcome them. After Camacho, I knew Hector “Macho” Cama- was even more apparent when he lost I never wanted to experience a moment cho on March 1, 1997 in inside the distance for the sole time in like that again. It’s like you have a vi- Atlantic City, N.J. It wasn’t his career when, at 41, he was taken sion you’re about to die and you can’t a good idea. Camacho, out in fve rounds by Hector “Macho” do anything about it.” no youngster himself at Camacho on March 1, 1997. Now, a few months after Hatton 34, dominated his shell of “I need the attention that boxing learned the hard way that good times an opponent en route to a ffth-round knockout. It was the only time Leonard was stopped.

JERRY QUARRY Quarry was a top-tier heavyweight during the talent-rich 1970s but was a shell during two comebacks. He returned in 1982 after being away for almost fve years and beat two journeymen. Then, on a heart-breaking night in 1992, undistinguished Ron Cranmer handed the 47-year-old Quarry a six- round beating that acceler- ated the decline that led to his Jan. 3, 1999 death.

Image: Ethan Miller-Getty -- Bernard Fernandez and Shane Mosley has made a great deal of money in his recent fghts even if his skills are badly faded. Michael Rosenthal

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 61 inside the ropes don’t last forever, another well-seasoned champion, Shane Mosley, intends to find out for himself if there is still water to be drawn from that forever-tempt- ing but frequently dry well of op- timism. Sugar Shane announced his retirement on June 4, 2012, a month after a one-sided decision loss to WBC junior middleweight champ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez left the former three-division titleholder with a 0-3-1 mark in his last four bouts. Mosley’s last victory was a ninth- round TKO of Antonio Margarito on Jan. 24, 2009, which many now view as the future Hall of Famer’s last hurrah. But the 41-year-old Mosley, who turned pro in 1993, dismissed his recent missteps and announced his intention to resume his career on April 27 with a challenge of WBA welterweight champion Paulie Ma- lignaggi at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. That f ght, however, fell through because Malignaggi ostensibly was dissatisfied with the f nancial terms offered him by Golden Boy Promotions CEO Rich- ard Schaefer, a reason – or excuse – Mosley f nds diff cult to accept. “I guess he’s afraid,” opined Mos- ley, who again is being trained by his father, Jack Mosley. “I hope that f ghters. I knew I would remain in or reneges on that decision. isn’t the case. It was a great oppor- the boxing world somehow, some Four notable f ghters who left on tunity for me, but for Paulie, too. way. But the more I thought about their own terms and never stepped He would make more money f ght- it, I realized that in my last four through the ropes again are Hagler, ing me than for f ghting some of the fights I was dealing with injuries Rocky Marciano, Michael Spinks guys whose names I’ve heard he’s that hadn’t totally healed. Now I see and Lennox Lewis, but even those considering. that my body is coming back. I’m doggedly determined few are said to “But if not Malignaggi, I’ll f ght moving better. There’s no reason for have at least f eeting regrets at hav- somebody. I want to see who’s out me not to f ght.” ing walked away when there still there. I’ve been sparring with dif- Not all retired fighters succumb might have been a bit more gas in ferent guys, most notably Kend- to the siren song of another twirl or the tank. all Holt, and I feel good. In fact, I two around the dance f oor, but they Josh Dubin, an attorney and feel great. I feel like I want to do it seemingly are in the majority. It will close friend of Mosley and Lewis, again, at 147 (pounds), my proper be interesting to see whether Winky said that Lewis brief y entertained weight. My legs are getting stronger. Wright, another former world the notion of a comeback in 2008, “I really thought, after Canelo, I’d champ who announced his depar- when he was 43. That was four be able to walk away from it and ture from the ring wars around the years after he officially retired in go into promoting or training other same time as Sugar Shane, sticks to February 2004, eight months after

62 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Larry Holmes didn’t need the money but still but since Leonard has been playing couldn’t stay away. He is pictured here with Eric games, it would probably take an- “Butterbean” Esch in 2002, Holmes’ last fght. other year to work things out. I feel Image: THE RING fortunate to get out of the ring with my faculties and my health. I’m going to say goodbye to boxing.” Spinks got a nice $13.5 million going-away present for his final fght, a frst-round knockout loss to Mike Tyson on June 27, 1988, the only blemish on his record in 32 pro bouts. He was only 31 at the time and, although he hinted at a possible comeback several times in the frst few years after that, those were nothing more than teases that never came anywhere near fruition. “It’s tough,” Spinks said at the time. “Maybe I am too young to re- tire. But if people are waiting for the day I step back into the ring, they’ll be surprised.” Leonard and Holmes (four announced retirements, three returns) stand in stark contrast to Marciano, Hagler, Spinks and Lewis. They are the poster boys of the boxing cha- cha, stepping back and then forward, repeating the process as the mood strikes them. Why do they and so many others feel the urge to do so? Unlike ham-and-eggers trying to keep bill collectors away from their he stopped a badly bleeding (but nity, not feeling like I have to come door, Holmes, like Leonard, was leading on the scorecards) Vitali back.” wealthy enough that he didn’t Klitschko. Hagler never fought after los- need to return for another payday. “Lennox was continuing to train, ing that split decision to Leonard, There was something else that just to stay in shape, and he got to which he disputed, but for over a spurred him on. thinking he might want to (fight) year he clung to the hope he could “You know where I messed again,” Dubin said. “But the more reclaim his middleweight crown in a up?” he asked rhetorically before he thought about it, the more he de- rematch that, alas, remained a hazy a 1991 comeback fight against cided that it probably wouldn’t be a apparition. He finally announced Tim “Doc” Anderson. “When I good idea.” his retirement on June 12, 1988, at started caring about that $2 mil- Lewis spoke to that in an inter- the age of 34, whereupon he left for lion check, and only about that $2 view with ESPN in November 2008. Italy to become an actor. million check. I turned boxing into “When you look back in history and “When you get out, you don’t what everybody else has turned it see other fghters coming back, it’s want to be like Muhammad Ali,” he into, a business. never really been good for them,” he said in taking his leave from boxing. “Now that I’m rich and I have said. “I don’t really have anything “My heart says yes, but my brain every damn thing I need, I have a to prove. I want to be one of those says no. The only reason I would greater appreciation of what this guys that leaves the sport with dig- return would be to regain my title, sport is all about.” n

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 63 FEATURE Like Father,

ANGEL (INCENDIARY) AND DANNY (HUMBLE) GARCIA COULDN’T BE MORE DIFFERENT BUT THE PAIRING OBVIOUSLY WORKS

By: Ron Borges

ove flowed along with the blood. That’s how L Danny Garcia began his affair with boxing. “I remember my first two days in the gym like they were yesterday,” the 24-year-old re- called when asked how his long walk to the RING 140-pound championship began. “The first day I was 7 and they said I had to leave because of insurance. In Philadelphia you had to be 10 to train in a gym. “I went back (to the Harrowgate Boxing Club) the first day I could. I had on a little green windbreaker and blue hand wraps and I was shadow- boxing and one of the trainers came up and asked me if I ever fought before. “I said, ‘No, this is my first time in the gym.’ He said, ‘Wow. Really? We got a tournament in a week. You want to fight?’ “My Dad and I said yeah. One week in the gym and I won a silver mittens fight. I was 75 pounds and my nose was bleeding. There was blood everywhere because I just went in there and threw my hands. I threw punches like it was a street fight but I won.”

Image: David Becker-Getty His critics might argue that Danny Garcia (25-0, Excitable Angel Garcia does much of the talking for son 16 knockouts) hasn’t changed much. Maybe they’re Danny Garcia, particularly at news conferences. right and maybe they’re wrong but, regardless, one

64 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Unlike Son

thing is undeniable: Danny Garcia hasn’t stopped winning. Garcia stunned the boxing world when he knocked out Amir Khan to add the WBA title to the WBC one he gained by defeating the aging Erik Morales, a win that came after being listed in Las Vegas as a laughably prohibitive 7-1 underdog. His father, Angel, who has never been one to avoid speaking his mind, looked at those odds and Khan’s suspect chin and gave his friends some advice he didn’t take himself. “He was supposed to destroy Danny but Danny destroyed him,” Angel Garcia said. “I couldn’t believe the odds were so big. I told all my friends ‘I don’t bet on fights but you go get rich.’” As things have turned out, that is a typically brash comment from Angel and a typical performance from his soft-spoken son. One does the talking, the other does the fighting and together, both believe, they are on their way to something far bigger than anyone but themselves thought possible when the kid in the green windbreaker and blue hand wraps first shadowboxed over in the corner at Harrow- gate Gym. “A lot of people underestimate Danny,” Garcia’s fatherly mouthpiece explained. “They always have. I’m glad they do.” A lot of people, but not his father, who first in- troduced his son to boxing and has trained him ever since. That type of father-son relationship is a familiar one in boxing but also one fraught with landmines. Image: David Becker-Getty Some say tension often grows between the two, in Laid back RING junior welterweight champion Danny part, because it is unnatural for a father to push his Garcia generally does his talking with his f sts.

THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 65 son into harm’s way rather than Where Angel brags, Danny is protect him from it, and in part humble. because it is hard for the father Yet never once has the son to forget the boy in the green taken the father aside, even af- windbreaker is now a man. ter winning the RING, WBC and Neither has been a problem WBA titles. Never once has he for The Fighting Garcia Family. suggested he tone things down Rather, it’s been a perfect blend or expressed any embarrassment, of each other’s strengths, a merg- even when his father attacked “I told er of convenience that has made Khan’s Pakistani ancestry (“I people like Morales, Khan and never saw a Pakistani who could everyone Kendall Holt learn an inconve- fight,” he said before his son nient truth: This kid can back up knocked Khan cold in the fourth Danny whatever his dad says. round last July). For the son, it is “When you have a gifted fight- just his father’s way of fighting; would be er the job is easy,” Angel Gar- different from his way but a part cia said of his son. “Even when of the whole. a fighter he was a little kid he’d watch a “That’s just the way he is,” the fighter on TV and when it was son said, laughing as he spoke. one day. over he’d be doing the things “That’s how he is all day. He he’d just seen on TV. says what he feels. It’s just the ... I’m not “I told everyone Danny would way he is. shocked by be a fighter one day. We let him “It’s definitely helped me with play all the sports – even hock- exposure. The fighters who get anything ey – but I knew boxing was the the most exposure are the ones sport for Danny. He was a natu- who talk. I might feel something he’s done. ral fighter. I’m not shocked by but I don’t usually say it. You ask anything he’s done. When people my dad how he feels, you’re go- When open their eyes, they’ll see he’s a ing to find out. star. “I never thought to ask him to people “That’s why we’re a good team. stop. He might snap on me! I let You can be a hell of a fighter, him be who he is and he lets me open their which he is, but you got to sell be who I am.” tickets. Danny is humble. Quiet. Who Danny Garcia is, at the eyes, I’m more talkative. Danny is the moment, is a shooting star few star but you have to sell the star. people in boxing want to ac- they’ll “That’s why I survived throat knowledge. Perhaps it’s because cancer, I believe. To be his voice. of his dad’s bombast. Perhaps it’s see he’s a So he could be heard through because he was relatively unher- me.” alded when he came out of the star.” Certainly Angel Garcia’s voice amateurs after failing to make has been heard. Heard insulting the U.S. Olympic team. — Angel Garcia Amir Khan. Heard insulting the Or perhaps it’s simply because father of the great former cham- Garcia is one of those guys pion Morales. Heard insulting whose whole is greater than its Zab Judah and warning that individual parts. There are faster April 27 will only bring the latest guys, more powerful guys, better in a line of failed big moments defensive guys, better offensive for the Brooklyn native. guys, better counterpunchers. But At times the father’s words when you add up what he does might be cringeworthy. Where have, well, referees seem to keep Angel is loud, Danny is soft. raising his hand, don’t they?

66 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Image: Jeff Gross-Getty Angel Garcia couldn’t have been more confdent – or calm – before his son took on favored Amir Khan last July.

“When his critics see him in ting his own suspect chin at risk. time from two overhand rights. the ring, they don’t see anything After Garcia’s father verbally By the time referee Kenny Bay- special,” said Eric Gomez, match- attacked him at the pre-fight less stepped in and stopped the maker for Golden Boy Promo- press conference Khan snapped, bout after talking to an unre- tions, who helps direct Garcia’s “I promise you – I’ve never said sponsive Khan at 2:28 of the career. “Nothing really stands this at a press conference – I will fourth round, it was clear that out. knock Danny Garcia out and if Danny Garcia shouldn’t have “He’s not a defensive whiz. You his dad wants it afterwards … been a 7-1 underdog. He was can’t say he has the most speed That will shut his dad up any- what his father always believed or is the best technician but he way. I’m going to hurt his son. he was. does everything good. They miss He said he’s never seen a Paki- “Khan didn’t respect Danny at the fact he’s a solid, solid guy. stani fight. He’s going to see a all,” Angel Garcia said. “They “He has a good, grounded Pakistani fight on Saturday and had no respect for us. If that’s game. He has a good chin and knock his son out.” how it is, Danny’s gotta keep he’s a big puncher with both Two nights later Khan was an knocking them out. hands. That’s what makes him ex-champion, having walked “He’s a two-handed puncher. good and he has one thing you right into a hornet’s nest made You can’t predict how he’s going cannot teach: Danny Garcia has by Angel Garcia and loosed on to hurt you but you better under- a lot of desire.” him by his son. Three times he stand he will. When he hits me Khan found that out when he was sent to the floor, once from by accident in the gym it hurts chose to press Garcia early, put- a crushing left hook and another for three days.”

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 67 Image: Jeff Gross-Getty As usual, Garcia made good on his father’s boasts by stopping the favored Khan in four rounds last July.

Sandwiched around the Khan the original date of the fight. and Devon Alexander, might be fight, Garcia twice beat Morales, Little has changed since a rib that fight. Making it, of course, first by decision and the second injury to Danny Garcia forced a is always the trick but Gomez with a devastating left hook that 2½-month postponement. Angel understands what it could mean spun Morales around and sent Garcia is still talking. Zab Judah for Garcia. him through the ropes and into is still hot about it. And Danny is “The Big Fight is with Mat- retirement. still smiling, a young champion thysse,” Gomez said. “Everybody Now he awaits Judah, who is with little to say but much to do. is talking about it. It would be an enraged after hearing Garcia’s “My dad was just stating true incredibly explosive fight. father say of him, “Everybody facts,” he said. “Every time he “I believe they’re the two is talking about Zab. Zab this, took a tough fight he failed. My best junior welterweights in the that, whatever. Every time he dad motivates me. He talks crap world. They’re both big punchers stepped up he lost. So what’s the and I got to back it up.” and their styles would make it a point? He didn’t win!” And so he has, although he re- dangerous fight but the kid and Similar words followed until mains one of those champions still the Dad don’t care. They’ll fight Judah ended up in Angel’s face, waiting for the f ght that satisf es anybody. expletives flying in combinations, those who refuse to see what An- “Those are the matches every- as the champion watched in gel sees and his son believes. body wants to see. Those are the amusement. Once things settled Many believe a showdown with type of fights fighters are remem- down Judah sounded like Khan, Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KOs), bered for. I’m hopeful we can get hollering about how he would whose only losses have been dis- it done but making fights like torture Garcia’s son on Feb. 9, puted split decisions to Judah that is never easy.”

68 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 “My dad was just stating true facts. Every time (Judah) took a tough fght he failed. My dad motivates me. He talks crap and I got to Image: Jeff Gross-Getty The Garcia family had a not-so-private celebration in the ring after Danny knocked out back it up.” Khan to win the RING championship and unify two sanctioning-body 140-pound titles.

While true, that’s not because lem was I was trying to kill ev- — Danny Garcia of the Garcias. Father and son erybody. I had a couple tough agree completely when it comes fights because of that and I re- to making matches. alized you’ve got to set things “Line ‘em up and Danny will up. knock them down,” the elder “I’m not surprised to be in Garcia said. this position. I knew if I got “Line ‘em up and I’ll knock the opportunity I could do it. them down,” the son echoed. “I I knew I could beat the best might be one of those fighters fighters. I knew I was capable who just never gets his props. of being the best. I’ll fight any- When I was younger my prob- one to prove it.” n

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 69 FEATURE The making of a HERO

SERGIO MARTINEZ HAS DEMONSTRATED UNUSUAL ABILITY IN MANY FIGHTS. AGAINST JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR., HE PROVED HIS METTLE TO HIS PEOPLE AND HIMSELF.

By: Bart Barry

70 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Sergio Martinez relished the opportunity to perform – and beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. – in front of an enthusiastic group of his fellow Argentines. Image: Julie Jacobson-Associated Press

THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 71 “I had rage, much rage, in that moment, I was enraged with myself, furious. I told myself, ‘Do not take one step backward. Do not go from here without f ghting.’ ”

Image: John Gurzinski-AFP-Getty Martinez’s misfortune of hitting the canvas against Chavez gave him the opportunity to prove his mettle.

oments after weathering a 12th-round onslaught in a rematch with Chavez will ref ect Martinez’s signif - Mfrom Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. that nearly undid cantly increased prof le. him, Sergio Martinez stood on the blue apron at The admiration he gained from his countrymen for Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, raised his hands the ordeal he endured in September, though, holds a and beamed. Then thousands of his countrymen, fellow greater value still. Argentines who’d gathered on the UNLV campus that “At least my country, Argentina, learned a certain September night, serenaded the middleweight champion moral about me,” Martinez says of that 12th round in as a national hero. September. “A moral, as we say, that until that moment, Martinez’s most terrifying moment will prove to be Argentina did not know about me … that I do not solely his career’s most lucrative. An enormous crowd is ex- box, punching until I get hit, but rather that when I get pected for his next title defense – against Englishman hit and knocked down, I rise, and I keep f ghting.” Martin Murray on April 27 in Buenos Aires – and, as- Prizef ghters fear humiliation more than pain, and suming he wins, the pay-per-view prof ts he’ll demand humiliation was en route that night in Vegas. Chavez, a

72 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Image: Naoki Fukuda Martinez’s fans reveled in his domination of Chavez for 11 rounds and were impressed he was able to survive the 12th round. man Martinez called “a lie” months before – and then, It knocked me to the canvas. And I believe that moment for 34 ½ minutes, nearly revealed him to be – suddenly commenced, for me, a different fght.” was on top of the Argentine, dominating him, pursuing The wondrous showman, straightening his metallic- Martinez’s submission. The noise that flled the arena in cranberry trunks or striding cockily about the blue mat that instant was a detonation of Mexican expectations in red-on-black boots or striking his opponent with ev- delayed, abandoned, then revived. It overwhelmed those ery punch in the boxer’s lexicon, was suddenly desper- gathered in a way nothing before it had anticipated. ate. His eyes went enormous. His mouth made a large O. Prizefghters fear humiliation more than pain, and hu- He collapsed delicately, from the ropes to the mat, while miliation was en route that night in Vegas. Chavez, a more than 10,000 Mexicans, on the eve of Mexican In- man Martinez called “a lie” months before – and then, dependence Day, shot upward, voices gone instantly for 34 ½ minutes, seemingly proved him to be just that – hoarse in a euphoric mass imploring their countryman suddenly was on top of the Argentine, dominating him, to fnish the tiny man collapsed before him. pursuing Martinez’s submission. The noise that flled “I had rage, much rage, in that moment, I was enraged the arena in that instant was a detonation of Mexican with myself, furious,” Martinez said. “I told myself, ‘Do expectations delayed, abandoned, then revived. It over- not take one step backward. Do not go from here with- whelmed those gathered in a way nothing before it had out fghting.’ anticipated. “I told myself, ‘Fight! Fight!’” “Yes,” Martinez said with a sporting sigh, “the end of Martinez rose, drunken with pain and fatigue, en- the fght was dramatic.” tirely outside himself. His mien became frantic. There Two months earlier, in July, Martinez had declared was nothing handsome about his bleeding countenance, that 99 percent of what he does in the ring is choreo- nothing balletic about his footwork. He was hobbled graphed beforehand and no improvisation is permitted. and frail, and on the very edge of a humiliation made But there he was, his right knee ruined, his body spread more sadistic by how it would end the connection that limply across the canvas and Chavez standing over him. he had made, fnally, with his countrymen that night. “In the last round, that 1 percent gained a lot of Martinez had largely been abandoned by the boxing force,” Martinez said from a boxing gym in Madrid. community of Argentina after his knockout loss to An- “He threw a punch that I did not have to get hit with. tonio Margarito 13 years ago. The beatdown had left

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 73 lingering doubts that even some Martinez shared the glory with his supporters after the Chavez f ght. He and the fans will pick pundits still referred to when assess- up where they left off when he faces Martin ing his durability. And yet, from the Murray on April 27 in Buenos Aires. midway point of the match against Image: Jeff Bottari-Getty Chavez, the Argentines had filled Thomas & Mack with song, their voices euphonious over the Mexi- cans’ embarrassed silence. The Argentines now stood aghast, the robin’s-egg blue of their flags suddenly low and wilted in sweat- ing f sts, no longer waving def antly over the green, white and red ban- ners of Mexico. But rather than clinch the younger, larger, stronger man, Martinez began to punch. He showed his fellow Argentines the character they’d not been sure of – and they reveled in it. “I did not want to give any ground to him, I did not want to re- treat,” Martinez said. “He sent me to the mat, f ne, great, but I wanted to demonstrate that I was still alive. I had life. One must f ght stunned, dizzy and tired. I was still alive.” The bell rang, and Martinez stood on the enormous red letters of the canvas’ Tecate logo, the f ght’s Mex- ican sponsor, and raised his red and black gloves. And his countrymen returned to song. “Three thousand Argentines traveling from Argentina to Las Vegas,” Martinez said. “Another 3,000 Argentine residents there. A more beautiful spectacle I have never seen in my life. “What I remember is each moment of the Argentines shouting, and the Argentines singing. When I walked back to my corner between rounds, when I stood on the apron after my victory. Incredible!” Three months later, it was the President of Argentina, Cristina Kirchner, who announced Marti- nez’s next f ght will be a homecoming. He will fight the undefeated Murray in Estadio Jose Amalf tani, a Buenos Aires soccer stadium col- loquially known as “El Fortin de Li-

74 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 niers (The Fortress of Liniers),” so named because of its home team’s THE GREATEST impenetrable defense. The stadium is set to accommodate more than ARGENTINES 40,000 of Martinez’s countrymen. The 10 best f ghters ever from Argentina (and 15 more). The moment will be one of profound vindication for Martinez. He 1. CARLOS MONZON (87-3-9, 59 KOS): All-time great went undefeated the is the world’s middleweight champi- f nal 13 years of his career. on, and after many performances in semi-f lled venues in the northeast- 2. PASCUAL PEREZ (84-7-1, 57 KOS): Another all-time great held world ern part of the United States, he will f yweight title from 1954 to 1960. now f ght in his nation’s capital, 30 3. NICOLINO LOCCHE (117-4-14, 14 KOS): Known as “The Untouchable” kilometers northwest of Quilmes, because of his sublime defensive skills. the town in which he was born and raised before an odyssey that took 4. SERGIO MARTINEZ (50-2-2, 28 KOS): Started late but built himself into him to Spain and California and two-division world titleholder. Atlantic City and Las Vegas, and 5. EDUARDO LAUSSE (75-10-2, 62 KOS): Never fought for world title but f nally celebrity. beat Gene Fullmer, Kid Gavilan and Tiger Jones. “We have talked with (promoter) 6. HORACIO ACCAVALLO (75-2-6, 34 KOS): Dominating f yweight of the Lou DiBella and (manager) Samp- 1960s retired as world titleholder. son Lewkowicz about the idea of doing a f ght with Sergio in Argen- 7. VICTOR GALINDEZ (55-9-4, 34 KOS): Two-time 175-pound champ made tina for a couple of years,” says 10 successful defenses in mid-’70s. Kery Davis, Senior Vice President of 8. OSCAR BONAVENA (58-9-1, 44 KOS): Heavyweight was competitive with Programming at HBO Sports, which top contenders during division’s golden era. will televise Martinez-Murray. “It just turned out that the timing hap- 9. LUIS ANGEL FIRPO (31-4, 26 KOS): Legendary heavyweight knocked pened to be right after his victory Jack Dempsey out of ring and beat Jess Willard. over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. this past 10. SANTOS LACIAR (79-10-11, 31 KOS): Little man won three world titles fall. We were happy to do it. For us, between 1981 to 1987. we just thought, from a television standpoint, it would be a terrific spectacle to televise the f ght from 15 more (alphabetical order): Jorge Ahumada, Carlos Baldomir, Gustavo Sergio’s hometown.” Ballas, Jose Carattoli, Jorge Castro, Juan Coggi, Hugo Corro, Jorge Fernandez, Now it is “Maravilla’s” turn to Jose Maria Gatica, Marcos Maidana, Lucas Matthysse, Julio Mocoroa, Omar be awed. He is decidedly different Narvarez, Juan Roldan and Justo Suarez. from the anxious person he was before Sept. 15, a man who sought injured myself, and in one or two the possibility of his growing old to emasculate Chavez in public ap- days I was fine,” Martinez said instantly, means every defense of pearances with the Mexican’s idol- about aging. “But today, even a his middleweight title will have ized father, who, from the match’s small injury takes weeks or months suspense. announcement in June to its clos- to recuperate from. It is hard to ac- Martinez’s story is one of an un- ing bell three months later, took the cept that.” usual and unnoticed ascent at a f ght more personally and seriously Martinez is 38 years old, small late age for a f ghter, an ascent that than his lackadaisical son did. for a middleweight and more in- happened after his country’s experts The knee operation that resulted telligent than most men. In Mur- abandoned him in prizefighting’s from the f ght with Chavez is now ray, he will face yet another mid- wicked caprice. There is no telling behind him, but the experience of dleweight larger than he is. His how much longer he will endanger rehabilitation and the moment that diminutive stature, though, is part himself in this brutal craft, how caused it now give humility to a of what makes his reign as middle- much longer he will be capable of man unaccustomed to showing any weight champion enchanting to it, how much longer he will allow in the ring. aficionados: Any challenger can for it. So sing for him, Argentina, “Before, when I was 20 or 25, I hurt him. That, combined with while you still have him. ■

THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 75 OBITUARY

Omar Henry’s story is a tragic one of a young fghter with promise who was cut down far too soon. Image: David Ali

76 the ring magazine - may 2013 GONE in an instant PROSPECT OMAR HENRY WAS JUST BEGINNING TO BLOSSOM WHEN CANCER CLAIMED HIM

By: Gary Andrew Poole

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 77 OBITUARY

Image: Naoki Fukuda Henry didn’t try to hide his glee when he stopped Francisco Reza only 33 seconds into their f ght in 2010 in Grapevine, Texas.

mar Henry was a ris- When he was 16, his sister Henry was part African-Ameri- ing prospect. In two brought him to Houston to “get can, part Puerto Rican. He mod- years, he might have him back on track.” She want- eled his style after Miguel Cotto. O been a titleholder. He ed to save his life. He had been He had an amateur record of might have been a lot “mischievous,” and she wanted 60-5. At age 20, he was a quar- of things. But Omar Henry, pro- to teach him what it meant to be terf nalist in the 2007 National fessional boxer, died on Feb. 1, a man. Part of being a man was Golden Gloves. 2013. He was 25. accepting discipline and really In 2008 he turned pro, knocking Henry grew up on the South Side committing to your dreams. Sure, out Terence Anderson at 1:15 of the of Chicago in the “Wild 100s.” It he wanted to be a boxer, but he f rst round. He won his next nine of was rough but he said it made him had never been in a boxing gym. 11 f ghts by f rst round knockout. a better person. His dad wasn’t He couldn’t afford such a luxury. He would jump on his opponents around. There were troubles at Wells paid the $30 monthly fee at with blistering aggression. He was home. He rejected the gang life. Savannah Boxing Club. “I spoke almost too eff cient. He entered He was universally described as life into him,” she said. that limbo of a boxer’s career in “optimistic” and “bubbly,” as a He became a f xture at the gym. which he doesn’t have much of a man who wanted to please. He fell in with a group of guys who name but insiders fear him enough In middle school, he dreamed of were learning the craft. Henry had that they don’t want to face him. becoming a boxer. He wanted to started late. They took him in. They He wasn’t f ghting very much, become the next Roy Jones Jr. But would come to call themselves the though. Outsiders started ques- nothing came of it, except he was “Bash Brothers” because they tioning his desire. He seemed a good shadow boxer. sparred with such naked intensity. more interested in celebrity than

78 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 boxing. Even with only modest success, he was starting to have the childhood he had never had. But people who knew him say he never seemed to fall into the typical boxer traps of too much, too fast. He had girlfriends. Plural. Mention the topic to his friends and they laugh. But he was known as a clean living guy. “Junk food was his only vice,” said David Ali, his trainer of the last 2½ years. Ali considered Henry to be his little brother. He wasn’t perfect (Ali attributes Henry’s lack of polish to his fatherless upbringing) and Ali sought to teach him about how to be a man. “He burnt bridges with me, with his manager. It goes back to his childhood. But sometimes a man needs another man to guide Image: Naoki Fukuda Henry had a lot of pop in his punches. He stopped nine of his 12 opponents, and … forgive him.” including Reza. Eight of his opponents fell in the frst round. Henry fought as a junior middleweight. He looked like a mini held him back, say some. But he told friends he knew it. He no- Mike Tyson—a low center of was trying to be patient. He had ticed how Mayweather created his gravity, skinny calves, a thick moved from one promotion com- character. It was fun. And it was neck and a 24-inch waist. pany to another one. But he was part of building a career. Some of He sparred with champions: working his way up. He firted his friends would laugh about it. Manny Pacquiao and Floyd May- with becoming an MMA fght- They knew him. They saw him at weather Jr. He could keep up er, but his heart was in boxing. the gym wearing medical scrubs. with them. During these sessions, Whether he would become a con- To make ends meet, Henry had his trainer would whisper stern- tender or fall away, he was soon worked at a nursing home. He ly, “Hold back your pop!” They to get a chance at breaking out. wanted to own one someday. He were getting paid to spar, not beat He just had to be patient. Just wanted to help people who were the confdence out of champions. hang in there a little longer. too weak to help themselves. They were bit players in the sport, “He was on the brink … the ca- Showtime came calling. Gordon and they couldn’t afford to make sual fan hadn’t seen it for them- Hall, vice president and executive enemies. selves, but Omar was, literally, producer of Shobox: The New Henry would end up having 12 the boxer that comes once every Generation, sought him out. Sho- professional fghts. He was un- 15 years,” said Ali, whose plan box features up and coming pros- defeated with nine knockouts. was to develop Henry for a long pects. “I knew he was an all action Twelve fghts didn’t give anyone career. fghter; he was a fast-handed ag- much to go on. The cognoscenti Henry was something of an gressive fghter,” said Hall. They believed he was only a 4-6 round enigma. He was a modern sort of wanted him to fght Juan Cabre- fghter. To prove them wrong, fghter. He had only had 12 fghts ra, a two-time Olympian who was Henry let his fght with Tyrone (none on television), but he had undefeated. The fght, scheduled Selders go 10 rounds. If you more than 170,000 Twitter fol- for Nov. 16, 2012, would match looked closely enough, he even lowers. He would post photos two undefeated fghters who helped Selders up in one round. of himself with celebrities and hadn’t been tested. “I’m the future Henry won a unanimous deci- so there was an outsized—maybe of boxing,” Henry boasted with sion. It was June 2012. even fctitiously outsized—celeb- a grin. But word started coming The politics of the sport had rity around him. He knew it. He from Henry’s camp that he was

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 79 OBITUARY

having trouble making weight. Showtime executives didn’t know Henry, only 25 when he died, what that meant. Was he training had the build of a f ghter who could inf ict considerable properly? Was he not prepared? A damage. week from the f ght, word came Image: Naoki Fukuda out that Omar wasn’t feeling well. This was the shot he had dreamed about, the shot that would expose him to a national audience. And he wasn’t feeling well? Everyone was trying to read between the lines. Said Gordon: “I thought he was someone who could go to the next level. He had a lot of future in the sport, a prospect that would turn into a contender.” No one knew what to believe. He had gone from the peak of athleticism to something else en- tirely. Just a few days before the f ght, Henry was diagnosed with Stage 4 gall bladder cancer. He didn’t have health insurance. He wanted to get his care at the highly-respected MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. But there was no money. Boxers don’t have health insurance. Is there anything that we can learn from Omar Henry’s demise? There is no reason to make it a cause, but it raises questions: Does the boxing community truly take care of its own? Is a 10-count for Omar Henry at the next big f ght the only thing we will remember about him? Or should his death raise the question of how boxing does—or doesn’t—take care of its own? Its practioners are the most vulnerable of all athletes. They said he hoped to live to celebrate like an infant child. He looked deserve better. his 26th birthday on Feb. 8. His pregnant, and his legs were swol- Henry ended up back in Chi- sister, Shonda Wells, the woman len to the size of tires. “My kid was cago at Mercy Hospital. In the who had given him boxing as a gift, a f ghter; this was the f ght of his middle of winter. He hated the would rub his back. During the last life,” said Ali. “He gained wisdom cold. Privately, he said he would two days of his life on Earth, he in those last two weeks. For the like to be buried in Puerto Rico. cried. He couldn’t talk. The pain next life.” The night before he died, Somewhere warm. But there was medication would wear off, and he raised himself up, he made a f st, no money. He suffered. “I really she would soothe him with warm and then he fell back into the bed, wondered, why this way?” asked blankets. “He didn’t deserve it,” never to move again. Ali. Henry turned to Facebook she said, “God bless his soul.” He At 6:35 a.m., on Feb. 1, 2013, to express himself to his fans. He lost 50 pounds. His head swayed Omar Henry was dead. ■

80 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013

feature

zou Shiming has the resume and following to make a name for himself in China and beyond. Image: Naoki Fukuda

82 the ring magazine - may 2013 Start of Big?Something OLYMPIC STAR ZOU SHIMING IS THE FIRST CHINESE BOXER WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER

By: Tim Smith

t is not often that the boxing world gets to witness the emergence of a Icultural icon, particularly one who could potentially represent the hopes and aspirations of a billion and a half people. Perhaps that is why promoter Bob Arum can hardly contain his excitement when the subject of Zou Shiming comes up. Zou is the frst Chinese boxer to win Olympic medals – a bronze at the 2004 Athens Games and golds at both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games. Arum signed him to a promotional contract in February and hopes it will open a golden gateway to Chinese boxing. “All I know is there are 1.4 billion Chinese and 100 million more around the world and this guy has struck a chord with all of them,” Arum said. After China lifted a 33-year ban on boxing and felded an Olympic team for the 1992 Barcelona Games, it was only a matter of time before a U.S. promoter jumped into the rising tide of interest in the sport there. Zou’s decision to turn pro and sign with an America promoter coincides with an economic awakening in China – a communist country – and a burgeoning consumer market that has a growing appetite for western products, entertainment and sports. Arum was not even sure who Zou was until he got a phone call from an agent representing the boxer asking if the Las Vegas-based promoter was willing to promote a 31-year-old, 108-pound Chinese amateur looking to turn pro. “I said, ‘What the hell are we going to do with a 108-pounder?’” Arum said. Then he did some homework, calling Robert Goldstein, president of the Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas who also oversees the Venetian’s property in Macau, to fnd out whether any of his people in China had heard of Zou. “Rob called me back and said, ‘My people over there are negative about everything, but when I mentioned this kid they went crazy. Get him no matter what you have to do,’” Arum said.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 83 Image: Naoki Fukuda Zou has enlisted Freddie Roach, trainer of another famous Asian boxer, to guide his development as a pro.

Arum signed Zou and is giving ease that transition, Arum has en- Boxers aren’t f ne wine. They don’t him what he calls “a record, high trusted Zou’s education to trainers get better with age. six-figure purse for a four-round Freddie Roach and Miguel Diaz. “He’s a fast learner like Manny. debut.” And like all bets, this one Roach has been credited with He picks up on things quickly, espe- could pay off big or it could go bust. turning Manny Pacquiao into a big- cially when you’re explaining tech- Zou will make his pro debut in Ma- punching, all-action, pay-per-view nical moves,” Roach said. “You just cau, China’s version of Las Vegas, attraction. Before his most recent have to show it to him one time and on April 6. KO loss to nemesis Juan Manu- he’s got it and he’s ready to move Dino Duva has worked with the el Marquez, Pacquiao had been on.” Chinese national boxing team since dubbed the “Mexicutioner” because Zou, speaking through a transla- 2008, setting up training camps in of how well he handled the style of tor, said he is conf dent that Roach China and in the U.S. and consult- Mexican boxers. If anyone can help can help him succeed as a pro. ing with the Chinese Boxing Federa- Arum turn Zou into box off ce gold “Freddie has a lot of profession- tion. He has watched Zou emerge it’s Roach. al experience and he really knows as a top-f ight amateur and two-time “He’s a very good talent with Asian boxers,” Zou said. “You can Olympic gold medal winner. a good amateur background,” see that with how he works with “He’s a very good technical box- Roach said. “He knows how to Manny Pacquiao. I believe, with er, a very well-conditioned boxer,” fight and that’s a good thing. I Freddie’s help, I will adapt to the Duva said. “I don’t know how he’ll know people are saying that he professional style very fast. He has be as a professional because he’s 31 doesn’t have punching power, but taught me a lot in the brief time that years old. He’s going to be f ghting I’ve found that he has surprising I’ve worked with him.” in a division where he’s going to punching power in both hands. After Arum signed Zou, he have to f ght some very good boxers And he has good defense. He’s a brought him to Las Vegas and set from Mexico and Thailand.” complete f ghter.” him up at the Palazzo Hotel to help Much will depend upon whether Regardless, Roach will have to create a buzz designed to travel Zou can successfully make the tran- fast-track Zou’s education to get back to the Venetian-Macau and sition from amateur to professional him up to the speed necessary to drive excitement and ticket sales. in a short period of time. To help become a megastar like Pacquiao. They erected a gym at the hotel

84 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 and later Zou worked out at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas before moving to Roach’s Wild Card Box- ing Club in Hollywood, Calif. Zou, who came over with his wife, went from the Hollywood version of America in Las Vegas to the real Hollywood in about three weeks. “In Las Vegas it was what you saw from TV. It wasn’t like real life,” he said. “But in Los Angeles I believe it will be quite different. More of a stable life, going to work every day with Freddie.” Wherever he went, Zou said the people he encountered had a real passion for boxing. He’s aware that he will attract a lot of attention – from American boxing fans who want to see if he’s the next Pacquiao and from fans in China who want to see if he’s the next Yao Ming, the former Hous- ton Rockets star. But he said he doesn’t feel any additional pressure to be successful. “I can’t say now what will happen, but I hope I can do a good job and become a pioneer,” Zou said. “I don’t mind being an example if that’s what it takes.” The Macau card will accomplish that in part, as live pro boxing in China is sketchy at best. Laila Ali Image: Naoki Fukuda shared a card with heavyweight An- Zou was unveiled to the U.S. public amid great fanfare in Las Vegas. drew Golota in Chengdu in 2000. Promoter Don King wanted to stage the third heavyweight champion- ZOU SHIMING ship match between Evander Holy- THE ESSENTIALS feld and John Ruiz in Guangzhou in 2001, but it was called off when Age: 31 Ruiz suffered a neck injury. Hometown: Zunyi, China Boxing itself has a spotty his- weigHt clAss: Junior fyweight tory in China. It got its start in the trAiner: Freddie Roach 1920s as foreign sailors in port Promoter: Top Rank cities like Shanghai and Guang- AccomPlisHments: Three-time zhou organized bouts between Olympic medalist (bronze in 2004, gold locals. Those matches were con- in 2008 and 2012). Also won three world ducted without government ap- amateur titles. proval or supervision. In 1959 First Pro bout: April 6, 2013 at the China dropped the sport from its Venetian Casino & Resort in Macau frst National Games, and after a (China). No opponent has been selected. boxer died from blows he took in

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 85 Image: Naoki Fukuda Zou has already gotten to work in hopes of replicating his amateur success in the professional ranks.

the ring, Chairman Mao Tse-tung the gold, and did it again at the that Zou has received, because he banned boxing and all other com- 2012 London Games. was not closely associated with the petitive sports as part of his Cul- “He really is the face of Chinese Chinese national team. tural Revolution in 1966. boxing,” Duva said. “I don’t think Arum said there were 100 me- In 1979, Muhammad Ali visited he’s at that popularity level (of Yao dia outlets on hand when he an- Deng Xiaoping, the head of the Ming), but you have to realize that nounced Zou’s signing in Beijing. Communist Party, at his compound boxing was non-existent 10 years He expects Zou’s pro debut at the housing China’s top leaders. The ago. In the last two or three Olym- Venetian in Macau to be a ma- picture of Ali hugging Deng went pic cycles the Chinese team has jor event, complete with ring an- viral for that era and a thaw began. done well. The people, the govern- nouncer Michael Buffer doing an Zou said he grew up watching tapes ment and the TV network in China introduction in Mandarin. of Ali f ghts on television, and Ali (CCTV) are just now paying atten- “The TV show that will include became his favorite sports idol. tion. It’s only a matter of time that the fight will have the highest In the 1980s Chinese boxers the mass population will start fol- number of homes available to ever began training again, but with- lowing it.” watch a boxing show and that’s out gloves or heavy bags. The No matter how successful he be- 500 million homes,” Arum said. government put together a team comes, Zou would not be the f rst An estimated 100 million people for the 1992 Games at Barcelo- Chinese boxer to win a world in the U.S. watched the most re- na with little hope of winning a championship. That historic hon- cent Super Bowl, perennially the medal. or goes to Xiong Zhao Zhong, highest-rated TV show in Ameri- It wasn’t until the 2004 Athens who beat Javier Martinez Resen- ca. Games that they succeeded when diz for the World Boxing Council “I’m telling you, this is big,” Zou took bronze. Four years lat- strawweight title last Nov. 24. But Arum said. “This kid is really the er at the Beijing Games he took Xiong did not receive the attention goods.’’ ■

86 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013

The Bible ® of Boxing® since 1922!

Martinez-Williams • A Look Ahead To 2011 • JuanMa ringtv.com

MANNY PACQUIAO Which Way SUBSCRIBE Will He Go? AND SAVE AS MUCH

FEBRUARY 2011 $8.95

AS 70% Display Until Jan. 31

Please Check Off The One You Wish To Order: Please indicate method of payment: ■ Save Over 35% Off Newsstand Price! Check or money order (enclosed and payable to Sports & Entertainment Publications LLC) ■ VISA ■ MasterCard ■ Six Issues of The Ring for $33.70* 610300 Save Over 50% Off Newsstand Price! Card #______■ One Year of The Ring for $53.70* 610300 Expiration Date: ___/______Plus The Ring Digital Edition for Free (A $29.95 value)! MO/YR 3-DIGIT SECURITY CODE

SUPER SAVER—Over 60% Off Newsstand! Signature:______■ Two Years of The Ring for $78.70* 610300 Plus The Ring Digital Edition for Free (A $59.90 value)! NAME______

DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION—Over 70% Off Newsstand! ADDRESS______APT.____

■ One Year of The Ring Digital Edition for $29.95 CITY______STATE_____ZIP______MAIL TO: Sports & Entertainment Publications LLC P.O. Box 433122, Palm Coast, FL 32164-3122 E - M A I L ______(necessary for digital subscription) TELEPHONE: 1-800-846-6438 TELEPHONE______E-MAIL: [email protected]

*FOR CANADA AND MEXICO: $52.50 FOR 6 ISSUES; $86.70 FOR ONE YEAR; $127.10 FOR TWO YEARS. ALL OTHER COUNTRIES: $81 FOR 6 ISSUES; $143.70 FOR ONE YEAR; $210.60 FOR TWO YEARS. INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS ONLY IN U.S. FUNDS ONLY. AIRMAIL SHIPPING ONLY OUTSIDE THE U.S. PLEASE ALLOW UP TO EIGHT WEEKS BEFORE YOU RECEIVE YOUR FIRST MAGAZINE. OFFER EXPIRES DecemberECEMBER 31,31, 20132011. LETTERS FROM EUROPE

Image: Simon Dawson-Associated Press Mikkel Kessler (left) and Carl Froch gave us a rousing show in 2010, one reason fans are so excited about the rematch. FROCH-KESSLER, PART II

By: Gareth A Davies, to war, not flit around the margins. The Telegraph, London I f rst clapped eyes on Froch in a multi- U.K. TOP 10 nation tournament at St. Georges Hall arl Froch has missed out on being in Liverpool back in 2000, when he was Gareth A Davies’ monthly Ca populist figure in British life, still an amateur. The venue has an amaz- pound-for-pound list for crossover stardom having eluded ing setting, both visually and acoustical- British boxers. him. His coming of age fight with Joe ly. Neoclassical in design and built in the 1. CARL FROCH Calzaghe, which would have raised mid-19th century, the tiled f oor rever- him in the estimation of the British berates with every shot and thud landed. 2. AMIR KHAN public, never came. It was a case of Amateur contests have abounded there. 3. DAVID HAYE sliding doors into different worlds. That night Froch was fighting at Yet he is held in high esteem by so middleweight, still unsure of his style 4. RICKY BURNS many within the sporting world, re- and at the time not the confident man 5. KELL BROOK vered as a man’s man whose fighting he is today. He won the bout on points 6. NATHAN CLEVERLY spirit belongs to a bygone age. that night, but I can remember his la- Froch against Kessler has begun to ment in describing his disappointment 7. CARL FRAMPTON capture the imagination. There was after failing to qualify for the Sydney 8. TYSON FURY a “big fight” feel when the two men Olympics. But the next year he would came together early in February at the go on to win a bronze medal at the 9. DAVID PRICE O2 Arena, in East London’s Dock- World Amateur Championships in Bel- 10. SCOTT QUIGG lands. These are two men willing to go fast, Northern Ireland.

THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 89 LETTERS FROM EUROPE

From there, as a young professional, he was training in the Len- nox Lewis Centre in Hackney, north London. Froch dormed there, training and sleeping in the vast, eerily empty complex with a group of Eastern European boxers – people like the giant Georgi Kandelaki, who looked like he’d been cut straight from the rock of a mountainside in Georgia. Kandelaki fought almost his entire, unbeaten 24-f ght career in England. The place was like a training home for misf ts. The training area was accessed by a side door; the outside of the building was covered in tumble- Image: Scott Heavey-Getty The 17,000 seats for Kessler-Froch II sold out within a few hours of going on sale. weeds. It was a strange, almost prison- like existence there. Froch didn’t judges’ cards – but f ve-time world Froch’s grand plan is to defeat like London particularly, but he champion Kessler (46-2, 35 KOs) Kessler and then take on Andre knew he needed to be there. He revealed that an empathy he felt Ward in a rematch, though both missed his native Nottingham. He for the British f ghter came from Briton and Dane united in be- pounded London’s streets before his own chagrin in 2007. moaning the Californian’s hit-and- dawn and the heavy bag in the af- “I made my mind up to fight hold, slip-and-slide style. ternoons. It was like the f nal part Carl again because I never got my “This is not just a career def ning of his graduation. rematch with Joe Calzaghe, which f ght, it’s the most important f ght Froch’s 12st (168-pound) unif - made me depressed for a time,” he I’m ever going to be involved in,” cation f ght with Mikkel Kessler mused. Kessler had fought Calza- Froch said. “I’m a better fighter at the O2 Arena on May 25 – a ghe in front of 50,000 fans at the than when we met three years ago. rematch of their thrilling 12-round Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Kessler will be difficult to stop, war in 2010 – has real resonance. one of the great nights in British but I know I can hurt him. He The contest will be Sky Box Of- boxing. We trudged out onto the looked like the Elephant Man the fice’s first pay-per-view boxing crowded streets of the capital city last time we fought, and although event since the David Haye-Wlad- of Wales at 4 a.m., inspired by the he won, he retired for a while.” imir Klitschko debacle. combat. Kessler’s respect for his British The litmus test for the popular- “After the f ght, Calzaghe went foe runs deep. ity of what now promises to be to the United States, had two more “I think me and Carl is one of a blockbuster between the IBF contests with Bernard Hopkins the great matchups in the world, and WBA titleholders, who have and Roy Jones, and then he quit not like Andre Ward or Bernard between them eight world titles, forever,” Kessler said. Hopkins, who don’t really come came when the 17,000 seats sold “I know how Carl felt when he to f ght.” out within a few hours of going lost to me. It was his f rst loss. The “I’d rather have fight number on sale. f rst loss in my career was to Joe three against Carl, even if I win The protagonists will share Calzaghe. The f rst f ght with Carl the second f ght, than f ght Ward a purse of just under 5 million a close f ght, and a very good f ght. again. It’s not on my wish list. I pounds (about $7.7 million). What I like about Carl is that he lost to him once, but he doesn’t Froch (30-2, 22 KOs) was beat- steps in there to fight with you, want to come out of the U.S. He en on points in their f rst meeting plain and simple. Apart from me, I wants to fight in Oakland, he in Denmark in 2010 – 113-115, think he is the best pure f ghter in wants to have his neighbor as the 112-116 and 111-117 on the the world.” referee and his sister as the judge.”

90 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Image: John Gichigi-Getty Martin Murray believes Amir Khan (left) would’ve been better off sticking with trainer Oliver Harrison (right), who works with Murray.

“When you ask the fans what’s mark, with 75 percent of the 5 “If he hadn’t made that decision, the best fght out there, the fght million television audience in I’m convinced he would be exactly they want to see, it’s with Carl that country regularly watching where he is now without the de- Froch. He has been in a lot of hard him. His promoter, Kalle Sauer- feats. I really believe that.” fghts but he’s still strong and he’s land, reckons 5,000 Danes will Why? “Because Oliver works still there. You could see in his last travel to London to support their on everything. I couldn’t tell you fight he’s not worn down. He’s man. It should be brutal artistry one thing he doesn’t work on. He there and he’s ready.” at its best. covers everything: the opponent, “Ward is a world champion, yes, improving defense and attack but but he holds and clinches. He’s also looking in on what he thinks very good, very fast, but in a real an opponent will do to beat you. fght, he wouldn’t have a chance.” spent an intriguing evening at He’s very good at tactics, at nail- When the protagonists respect Ithe home of middleweight Mar- ing a fght down.” each other in such a way and have tin Murray recently. He spoke “He’s just an unbelievable train- committed to another war, there about his troubled past, as a tear- er. He was spot on against Felix is little need for the dark arts or away teenager, which saw him Sturm, and we believe I won that smack talk. complete three stints in prison, but fght, in spite of it being scored a Instead, just gentle teasing from was saved by the daily discipline draw.” Kessler, who held a British pass- of the gym. They will need to get those tac- port until he was 16 and whose He had an interesting theory tics on point when he meets Ser- mother Ann is originally from on Amir Khan. Murray is trained gio Martinez for the WBC middle- Salisbury, a cathedral city. The by Oliver Harrison in Salford, a weight title on April 27 in Buenos Dane joked that he is “more Eng- suburb of Manchester. Had Khan Aires. lish than Froch” after pointing out stayed with trainer Harrison, Mur- Hours earlier, I’d spent the af- that the Nottingham fghter’s pa- ray reckons he’d still be unbeaten. ternoon with Ricky Hatton at his ternal side is from Poland. “I think Amir Khan made a mis- gym 30 miles away from Murray’s Kessler is a huge star in Den- take in leaving Oliver,” he said. house, in a quiet suburban cul-de-

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 91 LETTERS FROM EUROPE

Image: Lawrence Lustig-MatchroomSport Carl Frampton (left) proved he’s one to watch with his ninth-round knockout of rugged Kiko Martinez on Feb. 9 in Northern Ireland.

sac of Warrington. rently carries the baton as the best The protégé of former world Hatton had told me he has a in Britain. champion Barry McGuigan good feeling about this contest, But a rising f ghter signaled him- sailed through the bout with fly- and that Murray has a vibe about self as a major prospect on Feb. 9 ing colors, moving intelligently him which reminded Hatton of his in Belfast. Carl Frampton, the man and showing that after 16 fights mood before he took on and de- they call ‘The Jackal,’ dealt with unbeaten he is on his way to the feated Kostya Tszyu in Manches- dangerous Spaniard Kiko Marti- elite class. He also has an inter in the def ning moment of his nez with aplomb. triguing backstory: a Protestant career. “He is not fazed by Marti- Apart from being caught on with a Catholic fiancée in an nez,” Hatton said, “thinks he’s not the counter by the heavy-handed area once riven by a sectarian special. That’s exactly how I felt champion – which aptly demon- divide. before I fought Kostya.” strated that Frampton has a great It is almost 28 years since Mc- chin – he showed great move- Guigan defeated Eusebio Pedro- ment, stuck to his game plan za at a football stadium in West and when it counted put Mar- London, replete with 27,000 ’m told by those close to Da- tinez away for the first time in spectators, to become feather- Ivid Haye that he is looking less his career with a chopping right weight champion of the world. likely to f ght again as every day hand to become European junior We should watch Frampton’s passes, and as such, Froch cur- featherweight champion. emergence with interest. Cheers. ■

92 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Feature

Image: Phil Soto A traveling exhibit of Irish boxing memorabilia includes material on Muhammad Ali, who has Irish ancestry. Aye, A proud trAdition TRAVELING EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS IRELAND’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOXING

By: Norm Frauenheim pieces valued at over $340,000 sold to a surgeon who studied ca- – there is John L. Sullivan’s coat. davers. We’re not sure what hap- oxing’s Irish accent is heard How that coat survived more than pened to the rest of Donnelly, but Bthroughout tales full of leg- a century of wear, tear and moth- the arm lived on. Like today’s end, exaggeration, showman- balls is anybody’s guess. But it’s exhibit, it traveled as part of a ship, bare knuckles, busted noses, there, fur intact and looking as if circus before it wound up in a broken hearts, whiskey, weath- a Sullivan descendant could reach pub, which is where it reportedly ered gloves and even a mummifed in behind the glass, put it on and spent a lot of time when it was arm. It’s a great story. It belongs wear it for another century. still with Donnelly. in a museum. And that’s where it Sullivan’s coat is not far from An extended index finger on is these days in Phoenix at the Mc- an item that looks as if it belongs the Donnelly arm seems to point Clelland Irish Library. in the Smithsonian’s Museum of around the corner and to an exhib- Curator James Houlihan of New Natural History: a mummified it devoted to Muhammad Ali. Ali York pulled memorabilia, post- right arm. It used to belong to Dan traces his Irish ancestry to a great- ers and anecdotes out of the pubs Donnelly, Ireland’s first heavy- grandfather, Abe Grady, who was and into a traveling exhibit called weight champ. from Ennis in County Clare. Ali, The Fighting Irishmen: Celebrating The exhibit starts with Donnelly. who in 1972 beat Al “Blue’’ Lewis Celtic Prizefghters 1820-Present. Actually, it starts when he died in in Dublin, has a home in Phoenix. It started in New York. It stopped 1820. Within days after last rites, Phoenix and Ennis are sister cities. in Boston, then Ulster, Dublin and grave robbers stole Donnelly’s A cliché as old as Guinness says Limerick. It will be in Phoenix body from a Dublin cemetery there’s a little Irish in everybody. through May 31. named — no kidding — Bully’s Everywhere, too. These days, it’s Among the collection — 1,000 Acre. The body was reportedly in Phoenix. n

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 93 RINGSIDE REPORTS

Daniel Geale (right) avenged an earlier defeat by outpointing Anthony Mundine in a heated matchup. Image: Matt King-Getty

DANIEL GEALE UD 12 the island but the devils. ANTHONY MUNDINE “I thought they wiped all the Aborigines from Tasma- nia out,” Mundine said. DAtE: Jan. 30, 2013 Criticism from both white and Aboriginal communi- SItE: Sydney ties soon followed. Mundine tried to make amends. He DIvISIoN: Middleweight apologized. But damage was done to whatever good will WEIGhtS: geale 159¾; Mundine 158½ there was for the former rugby star. RING RAtING (GoING INto fIGht): geale no. 1; Mundine “It’s disappointing,” said Geale, who entered the ring unrated with the Aussie fag draped over a shoulder. “I wish I NEtWoRk: PPV (auStralia only) had a dollar for every time I said there was something Anthony Mundine delivered insults and did the talk- disappointing when I’m speaking about Anthony Mun- ing. He’s still talking. But Danny Geale landed most dine.” of the punches for a decision that seemed tame after Mundine threatened to protest during the Aussie na- Mundine tried to turn the fght into a political stage for tional anthem by turning his back on the fag and/or Australia’s treatment of Aborigines. sitting down in the ring. He said Geale didn’t deserve to The rematch of Mundine’s 2009 split decision over wear the Aboriginal fag on his trunks. Somehow, Mun- Geale will be remembered more for what was said than dine forgot to say that Oscar De La Hoya wasn’t a true what happened throughout 12 rounds as methodical as Mexican warrior. De La Hoya used those words from they were forgettable. Geale (29-1, 15 knockouts) did Fernando Vargas for motivation in one of his defning what he had to. Mundine (44-5, 26 KOs) said whatever victories. he wanted to. It was unanimous, on the cards for Geale Mundine didn’t protest. Didn’t punch much either. and for the outrage caused by Mundine. Geale outworked him for a 117-111, 117-111, 116-112 In the ring, at least, it was an Aboriginal victory. Both victory. Geale and Mundine are of Aboriginal descent. But Mun- According to punch stats, Geale threw 690 punches dine, whose trash-talk spared neither Australia’s white and landed 208. Mundine threw 646 and landed 141. population nor his own, questioned Geale’s Aboriginal Mundine complained – surprise, surprise – that he was heritage by insulting his wife, Sheena, and his birthplace, robbed. His punches were heavier, he said. But the num- Tasmania. bers said something else. Geale threw 386 power shots, “He’s got a white woman, he’s got white kids,” Mun- landed 147. Mundine threw 229, landed 71. dine said at a news conference. “People who did the recent stats,” Mundine said, “they Mundine also looked south and found another target are not fans of mine.” in Tasmania, where he managed to insult everybody on – Norm Frauenheim

94 the ring magazine - may 2013 Image: Naoki Fukuda Adrien Broner (right) put Gavin Rees down twice before their fght was mercifully stopped in the ffth round.

ADRIEN BRONER TKO 5 Yeah, Broner is a good show. But without a challenge, it’s in danger of losing as many fans as it attracts. May- GAVIN REES be that challenge awaits Broner at 140 pounds, against DATE: Feb. 16, 2013 Danny Garcia or Amir Khan or Lucas Matthysse. It sure SITE: boardwalk Hall, atlantic city, n.J. wasn’t there against Rees. DIvISION: ligHtweigHt In his frst 135-pound title defense since he blew away WEIghTS: broner 134 ½; rees 134.5 Antonio DeMarco in his lightweight debut in November, RINg RATINg (gOINg INTO fIghT): broner no. 1; rees no. 6 the former 130-pound champion warmed up for a cou- NETWORK: Hbo ple rounds and then uncorked an assault that resembled target practice. Adrien Broner, you have a problem and it’s not your In the third, Broner landed a blinding series of blows. nickname. It’s your opponents. It was called an eight-punch combo. No kidding. No Gavin Rees was just the latest in a roster of fall guys matter how often you count them, eight is an astonish- who are beginning to look a lot like the Washington ing number. But Broner threw them in about the time it Generals. In fact, the Generals’ chances at beating the takes most fghters to throw three. Harlem Globetrotters might be better than any chance In the fourth, he dropped Rees with a right uppercut any lightweight has against Broner. that landed fush. Somehow Rees, a tough Welshman, That’s how one-sided Broner’s slam-dunk of the survived. Rees’ trainer Gary Lockett, a former middle- 135-pound division has become. It’s not quite laugh- weight, was ready to surrender then. able. Not yet, anyway. But it’s getting there at a fast- In the ffth, Lockett did. break pace. First, Broner landed a left hook to the body that left It’s hard not to be entertained by Broner. He’s having Rees on his knees and without a prayer. Then, Broner fun. He’s a little off-beat. His speed and power are a followed up with a succession of punches for which spellbinding combination. He turns a post-fght inter- Rees had no defense. With one second left in the round, view into a stand-up routine. Lockett had no option. He threw in the towel, which is “I’m a legal bank robber,” Broner (26-0, 22 KOs) told what Broner will see more of if he doesn’t see it as time HBO after he battered Rees (37-2-1, 18 KOs) around to move up in a bid to prove he has pound-for-pound the ring like some sort of prop. “I just robbed a bank credentials. tonight.” – Norm Frauenheim

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 95 LETTERSRINGSIDE FROM REPORTS EUROPE

Demetrius Andrade (right) shut out capable Freddy Hernandez in an impressive performance. Image: Tom Casino-Showtime

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE UD 10 FREDDY HERNANDEZ gey to a knee, the position he was in when referee Kenny JAN. 25, HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (SHOWTIME) Bayless reached the count of 10 at 1:09. One of the brightest prospects in the sport showed off Charlo has knocked out three of his past four oppo- new tricks in his f rst f ght under trainer Virgil Hunter, as nents. The Houston f ghter, only 22, seems primed for a Demetrius Andrade shut out Freddy Hernandez on Sho- title shot. Box: The New Generation. All three judges had the same Charlo’s twin brother, Jermall, stopped Josh Williams score: 100-89. in f ve rounds on the undercard. The 2008 Olympian easily outboxed the 14-1 underdog, using his quickness and range to befuddle the junior JESUS SOTO KARASS MD 10 SELCUK AYDIN middleweight veteran. JAN. 26, LAS VEGAS (SHOWTIME) Andrade dropped Hernandez (30-3, 20 KOs) in Round Jesus Soto Karass turned in the signature performance 6. And he attempted to close the show in the waning of his career, an impressive upset majority decision over seconds of Round 9, badly stunning his game foe with a Selcuk Aydin. right uppercut, but Hernandez survived to the f nal bell. One judge turned in a head-scratching score of 95-95, Andrade could get a title shot in 2013. The quality which was overruled by more accurate scores of 97-93 sparring he receives in Hunter’s gym in Oakland, Calif., and 97-93. should serve him well. Soto Karass (27-8-3, 17 KOs) controlled the f ght with effective body punching and non-stop pressure. He con- JERMELL CHARLO KO 8 HARRY JOE YORGEY sistently bullied Aydin to the ropes with a two-f sted mid- JAN. 26, LAS VEGAS (SHOWTIME) section attack that seemed to dissuade Aydin from f ght- Rising junior middleweight prospect Jermell Charlo ing on the inside. made the best of his Showtime Championship Boxing de- Aydin (23-2, 17 KOs) normally f ghts with aggression but, stopping veteran Harry Joe Yorgey in eight rounds. but, under new trainer Adam Booth, tried to box with Charlo (20-0, 10 KOs) dominated every round, dishing Karass and never seemed to be comfortable. The Mexi- out fearful punishment, until Yorgey could take no more. can veteran almost doubled the punch output of Aydin The end came when Charlo landed a right that sent Yor- (950-523).

96 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Mike Dallas Jr. didn’t know what hit him when he was stopped by a single punch from Lucas Matthysse. Image: Naoki Fukuda

Soto Karass had lost fve of his previous seven fghts. and 120-105. Aydin lost his second consecutive fght. He was outpoint- Molina (21-5-2, 6 KOs) used good movement and ed by Robert Guerrero last July. well-timed left hooks against past-his-prime Spinks. He also couldn’t miss with the overhand right and Spinks No. 1 LUCAS MATTHYSSE Ko 1 MIKE DALLAS JR. was on the defensive the whole fght, though that once- JAN. 26, LAS VEgAS (SHowTIME) impregnable guard has drastically diminished. When Mike Dallas Jr. crashed to the canvas face-frst in Spinks (39-8, 11 KOs) was clearly outboxed through the opening round of his fght with Lucas Matthysse, it nine rounds, but Molina really began pouring it on in the simply underscored what everyone already knew: Mat- 10th, electing to throw more power shots. In the 11th, he thysse is one bad man. dropped Spinks to all fours with a big left hook. Matthysse (33-2, 31 KOs) landed a crushing overhand Spinks went down a second time in the 12th when he right that rendered Dallas motionless. Referee Robert fell into the ropes as the fnal seconds ticked off the clock Byrd reached the count of fve, but when it was apparent and his career. Dallas wasn’t moving anytime soon, he waved the bout off at 2:26. SAM SoLIMAN UD 12 No. 2 FELIX STURM Dallas (19-3-1, 8 KOs) was a late replacement for FEb. 1, DUSSELDoRF, gERMANY lightweight contender Hank Lundy, who withdrew Australian journeyman Sam Soliman pulled off a amid managerial issues. He came out quickly and tried major upset by outpointing Felix Sturm in Sturm’s to establish his jab but never had time to get settled home country of Germany, securing a spring title into the fght. He landed a few body shots before the fght with countryman Daniel Geale. The scores were end came. 114-113, 114-113 and 116-111. It was the ffth consecutive knockout for the Argentine Sturm (37-4-2, 16 KOs) started strong and seemed power-puncher, whose only two losses came to Zab Ju- on his way to victory when he dropped Soliman in dah and Devon Alexander via controversial decisions. the second round with a big overhand right. Soliman (43-11, 17 KOs) was in trouble and was hurt again No. 7 CARLoS MoLINA UD 12 CoRY SPINKS moments later, but he made it out of the round. He FEb. 1, CHICAgo (ESPN 2) gathered himself and began to steadily outwork Carlos Molina added the biggest name to his win col- Sturm in an entertaining fght, consistently beating umn, outlasting Cory Spinks over 12 rounds on ESPN’s the longtime titleholder to the punch to earn the vic- Friday Night Fights. tory. The Chicago-based boxer controlled the fght from the The bout with Geale will be the 39-year-old Soliman’s opening bell and won by scores of 119-106, 119-106 third crack at the title. He came up short in two previous

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 97 LETTERSRINGSIDE FROM REPORTS EUROPE

Juergen Braehmer’s victory over Eduard Gutknecht (left) could land him a shot at Nathan Cleverly. Image: Photo Wende

attempts against Anthony Mundine, but he is perhaps show maturity. We’ll have to wait on that. Growing best known for a 2005 loss to Winky Wright on HBO. up, like coming back, is a process. Maybe it’ll lead to a test of Lopez’s poise and chin. Aldimar Silva Santos, FRANKIE GOMEZ UD 10 LANARD LANE 1-2 over his last three f ghts, wasn’t that test. FEB. 2, LAS VEGAS (FOX SPORTS) Lopez (32-2, 29 KOs) dropped Santos (18-4, 9 KOs) Talented East L.A. prospect Frankie Gomez went the three times. In the ninth, he followed a f urry with a left 10-round distance for the f rst time with a shutout de- for the third knockdown, leading to an unapologetic cision of Lanard Lane. Each judge turned in an identi- TKO with 1:04 left in the round. cal card of 100-90. The bout was Gomez’s third under the tutelage of NO. 8 JUERGEN BRAEHMER UD 12 EDUARD GUTKNECHT Freddie Roach and he seems to be progressing. The FEB. 2, BERLIN standout amateur is just 21 years old and is gifted, but Juergen Braehmer, whose troubled career includes an arrest and questions about his dedication to the run-ins with the law and injury, looked as if he might sport have slowed his development. be in for some more trouble against Eduard Gutknecht. Gomez met the best opponent of his career in Lane But Braehmer (39-2, 30 KOs) survived to claim the (13-3, 8 KOs), but the 30-year-old Philadelphian was European light heavyweight title with a debatable deci- tentative and was outworked. sion over Gutknecht. Both appeared to tire in the late Gomez (15-0, 11 KOs) hurt Lane in the f fth round, rounds. but was never able to place his foe on the canvas. If Gutknecht (24-2, 9 KOs) managed to land some big Gomez remains active and out of trouble, he could be- punches but not enough and was penalized in the ninth come a player at welterweight. for using his forearm. The result was a victory for Braehmer by scores of 117-100, 116-111 and 114-113. JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ TKO 9 ALDIMAR SILVA SANTOS With the win, the former 175-pound beltholder put FEB. 2, BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO (DIRECTV) himself in line for a shot at RING No. 3-rated Nathan No apology was necessary this time. Cleverly of Wales. Juan Manuel Lopez did what he had to in his f rst bout since his suspension and apology for attributing KEVIN BIZIER TKO 8 NATE CAMPBELL his knockout loss to Orlando Salido in March to what FEB. 8, MONTREAL (ESPN2/ESPN DEPORTES) he said was the referee’s gambling habit. Kevin Bizier (20-0, 14 KOs) had the opportunity Lopez, an ex-featherweight champion, wanted to to introduce himself to an American television audi-

98 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 Carl Frampton’s convincing victory over Kiko Martinez was a big step in his career. Image: Lawrence Lustig-MatchroomSport

ence. But it’s diffcult to judge the Canadian welter- stopped him in his tracks and put him on the seat of his weight’s stoppage of Nate Campbell, who is closer to pants. Martinez attempted to get to his feet, but his legs an AARP card than he is his prime. were gone and referee Anssi Perajoki halted the bout The 40-year-old Campbell (36-10-1, 26 KOs), a as Martinez stumbled into the ropes. The time of the former lightweight champion, looked his age and stoppage was 2:46. sounded even older when he quit after eight rounds. A high-profle U.K. fght against RING No. 6 junior He couldn’t continue, he claimed, but not because of featherweight Scott Quigg could be next for Frampton. punches. Back spasms. dELVIN ROdRIGUEZ TKO 6 GEORGE TAhdOOAhNIPPAh Campbell, a trash talker in better days, is known FEb. 15, UNCAsVILLE, CONN. (EsPN2) for saying a lot of things. Bizier’s corner said the real Rodriguez (27-6-3, 15 KOs) will never be a star damage was done by a balanced attack to Camp- but he’s a good, experienced junior middleweight ca- bell’s head, body and maybe his ego. pable of giving most contenders a challenge. Tahdooahnippah (31-1-1, 23 KOs) had a gaudy NO. 5 CARL FRAMPTON TKO 9 KIKO MARTINEZ record and a good story – he’s a leader in the Co- FEb. 9, bELFAsT, NORThERN IRELANd (sKy sPORTs) manche Nation – going into the fght, the Friday Carl Frampton passed his sternest test yet with fying Night Fights main event. However, a quick look at colors, stopping Kiko Martinez in nine rounds to claim the Oklahoman’s record reveals that Rodriguez rep- the European 122-pound title. resented an enormous step up in competition. The bout was waged at a furious pace, with Martinez The result? A mismatch. constantly motoring forward and Frampton fghting Tahdooahnippah had plenty of courage but not on his heels. The Spaniard was able to control the pace nearly enough in the way of ability against a fghter of the fght and consistently push Frampton into the like Rodriguez, who battered the underdog from ropes, but Frampton (16-0, 11 knockouts) countered post to post until the fght was stopped in the sixth with accurate overhand rights and shots to the body round to spare Tahdooahnippah from taking more while going backward. punishment. Martinez (27-4, 19 knockouts) bullied Frampton The fght was Rodriguez’s frst since he lost a one- into the corner in the ninth and connected with a right sided decision to WBA junior middleweight title- when he was met by a short right down the pipe that holder Austin Trout in June 2012.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 99 through Feb. 18, 2013

HEAvyWEIGHTS

AMIR MANSOUR KO 1 DOMINIqUE ALExANDER FRANKLIN LAWRENCE KO 2 MARK bROWN ARTUR SzpILKA KO 6 MIKE MOLLO SONNy bILL WILLIAMS W 10 FRANS bOTHA DENIS bOyTSOv W 8 SAMIR KURTAGIC

CRUISERWEIGHTS

DANIEL AMMANN W 10 DAvID ALOUA DANIEL SANAbRIA KO 4 WALTER CAbRAL JON LEWIS DICKINSON W 12 DAvID DOLAN ILUNGA MAKAbU KO 4 GOGITA GORGILADzE

LIGHT HEAvyWEIGHTS

JUERGEN bRAEHMER W 12 EDUARD GUTKNECHT RObERT WOGE KO 11 HAKIM zOULIKHA DUSTIN DIRKS KO 3 CHRISTIAN CRUz FRANKIE FILIppONE W 10 KEvIN ENGEL GARTH WOOD KO 9 TOGASILIMAI LETOA RyNO LIEbENbERG KO 4 FLASH ISSAKA

SUpER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

RObERT STIEGLITz KO 3 MICHAL NIERODA DON GEORGE KO 1 JAMES COOK DOMINIK bRITSCH W 8 LUIS CRESpO ANDRE DIRRELL W 10 MICHAEL GbENGA SAKIO bIKA W 12 NIKOLA SJEKLOCA NOE ALCObA KO 1 IDIOzAN MATOS

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Image: Naoki Fukuda bRIAN vERA KO 10 SERGEI DzINzIRUK Lucas Matthysse celebrates his dramatic frst-round knockout CERRESSO FORT KO 5 ANDy KOLLE of Mike Dallas Jr. on Jan. 26 in Las Vegas. DANIEL GEALE W 12 ANTHONy MUNDINE SAM SOLIMAN W 12 FELIx STURM JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS MAx bURSAK KO 3 JULIEN MARIE SAINTE DAISUKE NAKAGAWA W 10 TAKEHIRO SHIMOKAWARA DEMETRIUS ANDRADE W 10 FREDDy HERNANDEz ALvARO GAONA W 12 JESUS NERIO JERMELL CHARLO KO 8 HARRy JOE yORGEy pATRICK NIELSEN W 12 pATRICK MENDy JERMALL CHARLO KO 5 JOSH WILLIAMS ANDy LEE W 10 ANTHONy FITzGERALD CARLOS MOLINA W 12 CORy SpINKS GRzEGORz pROKSA W 6 NORbERT SzEKERES ANTWONE SMITH W 10 JOSE LUIS CASTILLO yORI bOy CAMpAS W 10 GAbRIEL MARTINEz yOSHIHIRO KAMEGAI KO 2 JOSE ALbERTO LEAL JOSE UzCATEGUI W 10 ROGELIO MEDINA JAvIER MACIEL KO 5 EMILIO JULIO MATT KORObOv KO 5 ARTURO RODRIGUEz DANIEL SANDOvAL KO 2 MARTIN AvILA

100 the ring magazine - may 2013 delvin rOdriGuez KO 6 GeOrGe tAhdOOAhnippAh Andres Gutierrez KO 2 JOse CArmOnA AyOub neFzi KO 6 ishmAel tetteh JuAn mAnuel lOpez KO 9 AldimAr silvA sAntOs demetrius hOpKins KO 6 ChArles WhittAKer AlexAnder misKirtChiAn KO 12 AndreAs evensen lee selby W 12 mArtin lindsAy WelterWeiGhts (F) AmAndA serrAnO KO 1 WAndA OzunA

JOrGe pAez Jr. KO 9 FrAnCisCO Fuentes JuniOr FeAtherWeiGhts Jesus sOtO KArAss md 10 selCuK Aydin FrAnKie GOmez W 10 lAnArd lAne (F) JessiCA rAKOCzy W 10 AdA velez Kevin bizier KO 8 nAte CAmpbell FAbiAn OrOzCO KO 3 rAmOn COntrerAs rAy rObinsOn W 10 AlbertO mOrAles (F) yesiCA mArCOs sd 10 mArCelA ACunA teerAChAi KrAtinGdAenGGym KO 5 dOndOn sultAn huGO CAzAres W 12 rey perez rObertO Ortiz td 6 Fidel munOz sOd KOKietGym W 12 rAndy meGrinO CArl FrAmptOn KO 9 KiKO mArtinez JuniOr WelterWeiGhts JOnAthAn rOmerO W 12 AleJAndrO lOpez

Willie limOnd KO 1 eddie dOyle bAntAmWeiGhts viCente mOsquerA dq 6 FrAnCisCO COntrerAs emmAnuel tAylOr KO 6 rAymOnd serrAnO Albert pAGArA KO 3 JilO merlin dAnny O’COnnOr W 10 dereK silveirA suriyAn sOr runGvisAi W 6 elmAr FrAnCisCO luCAs mAtthysse KO 1 miKe dAllAs Jr. (F) yAzmin rivAs sd 10 mAriA villAlObOs ChAd bennett KO 3 ben AnKrAh tAbtimdAenG nA rAChAWAt KO 3 Willem ruben nietO W 10 dAniel rAsillA mArAhinA humbertO sOtO W 12 silveriO Ortiz JuliO CeJA KO 5 henry mAldOnAdO AntOniO lOzAdA Jr. KO 1 JOse pAyAn AleJAndrO GOnzAlez Jr. KO 2 hAnzel mArtinez shinyA iWAbuChi KO 8 vAlentine hOsOKAWA dierry JeAn KO 2 JuAn riverA JuniOr bAntAmWeiGhts liGhtWeiGhts Felipe OruCutA KO 1 FernAndO lumACAd CArlOs ruedA KO 6 edGAr Jimenez JOse hernAndez KO 8 tOny luis mCJOe ArrOyO KO 4 Felipe rivAs JOse GOnzAlez KO 5 AleJAndrO rOdriGuez OleydOnG sithsAmerChAi W 6 FAlAzOnA FidAl JOse Felix Jr. W 10 GerArdO rObles brunet zAmOrA W 12 KrzysztOF szOt FlyWeiGhts Chris hOWArd KO 3 bAyAn JArGAl Fidel mAldOnAdO Jr. KO 3 JOrGe rOmerO JersOn mAnCiO W 10 GerpAul vAlerO Adrien brOner KO 5 GAvin rees nAWAphOn pOr ChOKChAi KO 8 rOnerex dAlut (F) susi KentiKiAn W 10 sAnAe JAh JuniOr liGhtWeiGhts mCWilliAms ArrOyO KO 4 miGuel tAmAyO nOKnOi sitthiprAsert W 12 KeniChi hOriKAWA FrAnCisCO vArGAs KO 2 irA terry miCKey bey Jr. KO 3 rObert rOdriGuez JuniOr FlyWeiGhts bAhA lAhAm W 10 tyler Asselstine JOmthOnG ChuWAtAnA W 12 rOnAld pOntillAs yOdmOnGKOl vOr sAenGthep KO 7 CrisOn OmAyAO ben JOnes W 12 Kris huGhes (F) yesiCA bOpp td 10 mArisA pOrtillO edner Cherry KO 6 viCente esCObedO sAul JuArez KO 10 ArmAndO tOrres luis CeJA KO 5 AleJAndrO mOrAles FeAtherWeiGhts strAWWeiGhts rOmulO KOAsiChA KO 2 eden mArquez JOel brunKer W 8 ivAn hernAndez WAnhenG menAyOthin W 6 JACK AmisA ChOnlAtArn piriyApinyO KO 4 ArieF blAder heKKie budler W 12 renAn trOnGCO

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 101 COMING UP

MARch OThER MATchEs MARch 15 – Orlando Cruz vs. Aalan Martinez, 12 rounds, feath- TIMOThy bRADLEy vs. erweights, in Kissimmee, Fla. (Telemundo) … Peter Manfredo Jr. RUsLAN PROvODNIKOv vs. Joey Spina, 10 rounds, light heavyweights, in Lincoln, R.I. DATE: March 16, 2013 MARch 16 – Robert Marroquin vs. Antonio Escalante, 10 rounds, LOcATION: Carson, Calif. featherweights, in Thackerville, Okla. (UniMas) … Johnriel Ca- DIvIsION: Welterweight (for simero vs. Luis Alberto Rios, 12 rounds, for Casimero’s IBF junior Bradley’s WBO title) fyweight title, in Panama. Tv: HBO MARch 22 – Adonis Stevenson vs. Darnell Boone, rematch, 10 HHH WATchAbILITy RATING (UP TO fIvE sTARs): rounds, super middleweights, in Montreal (WealthTV). ALsO fIGhTING: Jessie Vargas vs. Wale Omotosu, 10 rounds, welter- MARch 23 – Arthur Abraham vs. Robert Stieglitz, 12 rounds, for weights Abraham’s WBO super middleweight title, in Germany … James sIGNIfIcANcE: Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) had hoped for a lucrative DeGale vs. Pablo Farias, 12 rounds, super middleweights, in Kent, rematch with Manny Pacquiao, who he outpointed last June. Instead, England. nine months after that fght, he’ll have to settle for a title defense MARch 29 – Brian Vera vs. Donatas Bondorovas, 10 rounds, against the tough but relatively unknown Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KOs). middleweights, in Verona, N.Y. (ESPN2). We’ll see how motivated Bradley is. MARch 30 – Gennady Golovkin vs. Nobuhiro Ishida, 12 rounds, PREDIcTION: Michael Rosenthal – Bradley TKO 9; Doug Fischer – for Golovkin’s WBA middleweight title, in Monaco … Tony Bellew Bradley UD; Lem Satterfeld – Bradley KO 9. vs. Isaac Chilemba, 12 rounds, light heavyweights, in Liverpool, England. RIcKy bURNs vs. MIGUEL vAZQUEZ DATE: March 16, 2013 LOcATION: London APRIL DIvIsION: Lightweight (for Burns’ WBO and Vazquez’s IBF NONITO DONAIRE vs. titles) GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX Tv: Epix DATE: April 13, 2013 WATchAbILITy RATING (UP TO fIvE sTARs): HHH LOcATION: Radio City Music ALsO fIGhTING: Nathan Cleverly vs. Robin Krasniqi, 12 rounds, for Hall, New York City Cleverly’s WBO light heavyweight title; George Groves vs. Mouhamed Ali DIvIsION: Junior feather- Ndiaye, 12 rounds, super middleweights weight (for Donaire’s WBO and Rigondeaux’s WBA titles) sIGNIfIcANcE: Burns (35-2, 10 KOs) faces his biggest test to date in the Tv: HBO slick Vazquez (33-3, 13 KOs), who has the ability to frustrate opponents WATchAbILITy RATING (UP TO fIvE sTARs): HHHH with his in-and-out movement. The winner could earn a shot at WBC light- sIGNIfIcANcE: Donaire (31-1, 20 KOs) faces yet another in a long weight titleholder Adrien Broner, which could turn out to be a booby prize. line of top-tier opponents in the slick Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KOs). The PREDIcTION: Rosenthal – Vazquez SD; Fischer – Burns SD; Satterfeld – calculating Cuban might not make for an exciting fght but, in light of Vazquez MD. his unquestioned skills and experience, he could represent Donaire’s biggest test to date. bRANDON RIOs vs. PREDIcTION: Rosenthal – Donaire KO 8; Fischer – Donaire KO 6; MIKE ALvARADO Satterfeld – Donaire MD. DATE: March 30, 2013 LOcATION: Las Vegas sERGIO MARTINEZ vs. DIvIsION: Junior welterweight Tv: HBO MARTIN MURRAy Watchability rating (up to fve stars): HHHHH DATE: April 27, 2013 ALsO fIGhTING: Khabib Allakhverdiev vs. Breidis Prescott, 12 rounds, LOcATION: Buenos Aires, junior welterweights Argentina sIGNIfIcANcE: The Oct. 13 meeting between Rios (31-0-1, 23 KOs) DIvIsION: Middleweights (for and Alvarado (33-1, 23 KOs) was one of the most exciting fghts of 2012. Martinez’s RING and WBC titles) There’s no reason to believe the brawlers’ second fght will turn out differ- Tv: HBO ently. Rios won the frst meeting by a sensational seventh-round knockout. WATchAbILITy RATING (UP TO fIvE sTARs): HHHH PREDIcTION: Rosenthal – Rios KO 10; Fischer – Rios KO 10; Satterfeld ALsO fIGhTING: Luis Carlos Abregu vs. Antonin Decarie, 12 rounds, – Rios KO 6. welterweights

102 the ring magazine - may 2013 THE RING junior featherweight champ Nonito Donaire (left) will face Guillermo Rigondeaux in an intriguing matchup on April 13 in New York City. Image: Naoki Fukuda

Significance: Murray (25-0-1, 11 KOs) probably doesn’t stand a better chance against Martinez (50-2-2, 28 KOs) than countrymen Darren otHer aPriL figHtS Barker and Matthew Macklin. The storyline here is Martinez’s triumphant aPriL 5 – Marvin Quintero vs. Ammeth Diaz, 12 rounds, feather- return to his homeland after making his name in Spain and the U.S. weights, in Santa Ynez, Calif. (ESPN2). Prediction: Rosenthal – Martinez KO 9; Fischer – Martinez UD; Sat- aPriL 6 – Zou Shiming vs. TBA, four rounds, junior fyweights, in terfeld – Martinez KO 11. Macau (Chinese Olympic champion’s pro debut). Also on that card, Rocky Martinez vs. Diego Magdaleno, 12 rounds, for Martinez’s dannY garcia vS. WBO junior lightweight title and Brian Viloria vs. Juan Francisco ZaB JUdaH Estrada, 12 rounds, for Viloria’s WBA/WBO fyweight titles. date: April 27, 2013 aPriL 7 – Koki Kameda vs. Yonfrez Parejo, 12 rounds, bantam- Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. weights, in Japan. diviSion: Junior welter- aPriL 8 – Shinsuke Yamanaka vs. Malcolm Tunacao, 12 rounds, weights (for Garcia’s RING, for Yamanaka’s WBC bantamweight title, in Japan. Also on that card, WBC and WBA titles) Toshiyuki Igarashi vs. Akira Yaegashi, 12 rounds, for Igarashi’s WBC tv: Showtime fyweight title and Gamaliel Diaz vs. Takashi Miura, 12 rounds, for WatcHaBiLitY rating (UP to five StarS): HHHH Diaz’s WBC junior lightweight title. aLSo figHting: Peter Quillin vs. Fernando Guerrero, 12 rounds, for aPriL 12 – Andre Dirrell vs. TBA, 10 rounds, super middleweights, Quillin’s WBO middleweight title. in Temecula, Calif. (ESPN2). Significance: Judah (42-7, 29 KOs) has been known to fold in his aPriL 13 – Cecilia Braekhus vs. Mia St. John, 10 rounds, welter- biggest fghts but probably has the skills and experience to test Garcia weights, in Denmark. (25-0, 16 KOs), who continues to confound his critics. In light of Garcia’s aPriL 20 – Tyson Fury vs. Steve Cunningham, 12 rounds, heavy- power, we can’t help but to think of Judah’s KO loss to Kostya Tszyu. weights, in New York (NBC) … Omar Narvaez vs. Daniel Rosas, 12 Prediction: Rosenthal – Garcia KO 6; Fischer – Garcia KO 7; Sat- rounds, for Narvaez’s WBO junior bantamweight title, in Argentina. terfeld – Garcia KO 9.

THE MATCHUPS HERE WERE SCHEDULED AS OF THE TIME WE WENT TO PRESS. PLEASE GO TO RINGTV.COM OR SCAN THIS QR CODE TO VIEW AN UPDATED SCHEDULE.

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 103 NEW FACES

Image: Chris Farina-Top Rank Terence Crawford is taking advantage of a second chance after surviving a gunshot wound to his head. TERENCE CRAWFORD

By: Mike Coppinger “I’m hit!” Crawford screamed a split second after a stray Mack 9 bullet had pierced the back of his skull. Sept. 2, 2008. The date is forever etched in the Lucky for him the bullet had been slowed by the rear memory of budding boxer Terence Crawford. That windshield, probably saving his life. was the day a bullet entered the back of his head. Today, with his boxing career going well, Crawford Crawford had spent the evening shooting dice out- looks back on the horrible incident as a learning op- side a friend’s house in his hometown of Omaha, portunity. Neb., when a cordial game became heated. It was “It made me get tougher,” said Crawford, who was time to go. He jumped into his 1986 Cutlass Supreme 8-0 at the time of the shooting. “It made my mind and glanced in his rear view mirror, where he could sharper and it made me think more. One mistake can see that tempers had reached a dangerous level. He end your career, just like one mistake can end your told himself, “Get out of here.” life. I’m going in this ring, I might not come out.” Too late. Crawford was back in the ring just two months after

104 the ring magazine - may 2013 the incident with a second-round knockout victory and has continued to grow as a boxer. The 135-pounder possesses one-punch knockout power and the amateur pedigree to back it up. He won a number of major tournaments before he turned pro, beating the likes of current RING champions Danny Garcia and Mikey Garcia along the way. Crawford, 25, could become a staple on television if he continues to win, particularly with the backing of promoter Top Rank Image: Naoki Fukuda and manager Cameron Dunkin. Crawford (right, punching Andre Gorges) has boxing ability and good punching power. “The HBO guys are aware of him and they like him,” said Top Rank matchmaker Brad Good- hearing tales of heavyweight great man, who believes Crawford will and Omaha native Max Baer dur- TERENCE CRAWFORD Image: XXXXXXX make his premium cable debut THE ESSENTIALS ing his formative years. The stories in late 2013 or early 2014. “He’s inspired him to reach heights his one of the real good prospects father, uncles and grandfather – all that we have. We’re excited about AGE: 25 amateur f ghters – never did. him, we have a lot of faith in him WEIGHT CLASS: Lightweight Crawford gets frustrated when and we believe he can be a cham- HEIGHT: 5-foot-8 he sees f ghter his age headline ma- pion.” STANCE: Orthodox jor cards and f ght for world titles So what separates Crawford NICKNAME: Bud but bides his time. He believes he’ll from other prospects? His power HOMETOWN: Omaha, Neb. shine when he’s under the bright and effective body punching, ac- RECORD: 19-0 (15 knockouts) lights. cording to Dunkin. How conf dent is he? He believes “He really can crack,” said he is on par with Adrien Bro- Dunkin, who has Mikey Garcia, Kelly (Pavlik); a better one-punch ner, who THE RING rates No. 6 Brandon Rios and Nonito Donaire knockout guy.” pound for pound. in his stable. “Those guys are hard Omaha isn’t exactly a boxing “I’m right there with him,” to f nd. You don’t see this kind of hotbed but it has a strong link to Crawford said. “No question. No power. He’s a better puncher than the sport. Crawford remembers ifs, ands or buts about it.”

OTHERS TO WATCH IVAN REDKACH, LIGHTWEIGHT tion at 118 pounds. Caballero, 22, stopped veteran Luis Redkach (13-0, 11 KOs) was a decorated amateur Maldonado in his last bout, his biggest victory yet. He’s (reportedly 260-40 in the unpaid ranks) who represent- shown good power and an aggressive style. He is pro- ed Ukraine as an alternate in the 2008 Olympics. The moted by Golden Boy. 26-year-old southpaw power-puncher has employed an exciting pressure style and sound fundamentals to es- TUREANO JOHNSON, MIDDLEWEIGHT tablish himself as one of the top prospects at 135. He is Johnson (13-0, 10 KOs) is attempting to put his island promoted by Lou DiBella. nation of the Bahamas on the f stic map. He represented his homeland at the 2008 Olympics before turning pro RANDY CABALLERO, BANTAMWEIGHT in 2010. Johnson’s last two bouts came in the span of The 2008 U.S. amateur f yweight champion (18-0, 10 f ve days, knockout wins in the f rst and third rounds, KOs) from Coachella, Calif., is on the cusp of conten- respectively. He is promoted by Gary Shaw.

THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 105 Image: Naoki Fukuda Amir Khan (left) said he overtrained for his fght against Marcos Maidana in 2010. DIMINISHING RETURNS HARD WORK IN THE GYM IS CRUCIAL BUT OVERDOING IT CAN BACKFIRE

By: T.K. Stewart have abounded regarding the methods one should employ when preparing for a bout. ike Donovan, a middleweight boxer who Often overlooked amid gym sessions, roadwork and Mlater gained fame by teaching President diet is the phenomenon known as overtraining. Quite Theodore Roosevelt and his sons to box, simply, overtraining is what happens when someone wrote an essay in 1893 entitled “How to Train for does more than they can handle. When workouts are a Fight” in which he covered topics such as how too intense or not enough time is allowed for recov- often to rest, what foods to eat and how to select ery, the effect on the body is cumulative. Symptoms a trainer. can be both physical (sore muscles, low energy, nag- An International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, ging injuries) and mental (low concentration, mood Donovan was known as “The Professor” because of changes), and the athlete’s progress doesn’t just suffer; his breadth of training knowledge. In the 120 years in some cases it reverses. since he composed his treatise on training, theories Most trainers are familiar with the pitfalls of over-

106 the ring magazine - may 2013 training and are aware that more exercise is not necessarily better. Freddie Roach and Alex Ariza have often commented that their star thoroughbred, Manny Pacquiao, needs to be reigned in sometimes to avoid overtraining and peaking too soon. After the great Alexis Arguello lost to Aaron Pryor in 1982, he claimed that Eddie Futch overtrained him and that it affected his performance throughout that legendary bout. Arguello explained in a 1983 interview with World Box- ing Magazine that “I was too tight. My muscles were tight. My arms, my legs were tight from too much work. In the first round you feel it. The muscles were tight from overwork. It’s like you’re a dried out berry in the sun or like you have a bad car battery and the energy is taken away. That’s the way I was feeling.” Arguello said he nearly doubled his roadwork and trained eight weeks for the bout whereas normally he would train six. “I was running for an hour and 20 minutes a day. If I didn’t train good enough, I could find an explanation. But I did everything right. I did everything the right way with my trainers. The only excuse is overtraining.” More recently, Amir Khan told a group of boxing writers that even though he defeated Marcos Maidana in 2010, he and his trainer Freddie Roach believed he had overtrained. “The first thing Freddie said to me was it was a great performance, we proved the critics wrong. But he really thought I was overtrained for that fight because it was a long training camp, a 13-week training camp and it’s a long time,” Khan said. “I like to work, I like to push myself and walk out of that gym tired. I don’t like going into the gym and not working hard. So, Freddie thinks we overtrained for the fight because I remember being in the fight and I felt muscle fatigue. I didn’t really feel tired where my breathing was heavy or anything. It’s just that my arms and legs felt a little tired.” Because each fighter is unique, what might be overtraining to one is not enough training for another. “It’s different for every guy,” said Nazim Richardson, who trains many of the top fghters in the sport. “I’m not going to train Bernard the same I train Steve Cunningham. What happens is a guy fnds a program that works for him and he sticks with it. It all depends, but the important thing is to fnd out what works for the athlete. The trainer has to have the eye and the mind to see when a guy is overdoing it. You know, the trainer gotta know when to pull a guy back, you know what I mean? I was lucky because I learned and listened from the old-timers and they knew what to look for.” Perhaps the fnal word on overtraining should be left to the consummate old-timer in “Professor” Donovan, who recognized over a century ago that fghters could do too much: “Above all things, let common sense rule in your training,” he wrote. “If stale or tired from overwork, rest a day, or even two, to recover your vigor and appetite.” n

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 107 Image: Chris Graythen-Getty Christy Martin (right, fghting Laila Ali) was the face of women’s boxing when it hit its peak in the late 1990s. DOWN BUT NOT OUT? WOMEN’S BOXING IS STRUGGLING TO FIND ITS WAY IN THE U.S.

By: Ryan Songalia woman with a decidedly different nities for women dwindled. Today approach to the sport began to ap- women’s boxing is non-existent on he decade of the 1990s was the pear on Oscar De La Hoya’s cards in national television in the U.S., leav- Tgolden era for women’s boxing the late ’90s. Mia St. John, promoted ing fans to watch their favorite com- in the United States. by Top Rank, relied on solid ability, batants on YouTube days after they Christy Martin was in her prime good looks and a knack for self pro- fght. and fghting on Mike Tyson’s under- motion to become a crossover star in “I was defnitely in the right place cards. Her epic six-round brawl with her own right. She was featured on at the right time,” said Martin, who Deirdre Gogarty on the Tyson-Frank the cover of Playboy and also made now goes by her maiden name of Bruno card in 1996 – before millions the talk-show rounds. Christy Salters and is retired. “I was of television viewers – helped put Women’s boxing was never bigger. prepared and ready to take advan- women on the map. Martin would And then, just as quickly as Martin tage of the opportunity. That’s all go on to adorn the cover of Sports Il- and St. John emerged, the popular- (promoter Don) King did, he gave lustrated and became a regular guest ity began to wane. The likes of Lucia me a wonderful opportunity, but he on TV talk shows. Rijker, Laila Ali and Layla McCarter didn’t treat me any differently than Around the same time, another had some success but the opportu- he did a male fghter. He put me out

108 the ring magazine - may 2013 there, sink or swim. Whatever hap- Mia St. John combined boxing pens, happens.” ability, good looks The sport remains a major attrac- and a knack for tion in Argentina, Mexico and Ger- self-promotion many. Stars such as Marcela Acuna, to become a well-known Jackie Nava and Regina Halmich personality. have become major attractions in Image: Hector Mata their home countries, where there is AFP-Getty no shortage of TV dates for women. American champions like Ava Knight and Melissa McMorrow routinely travel to other countries in search of worthwhile purses. Many believed the same thing would happen in the U.S. when Laila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, followed Martin and St. John. She had top-level skills with looks to match. But when she retired undefeated in 2007 to pursue interests outside of boxing, leaving highly anticipated clashes with Rijker and Ann Wolfe unfulflled, the sport’s momentum came to a grinding halt. “I think that Laila, she went to lowed the recent crop of female believes it can … but only if the ma- the gym, she learned her craft, she’s boxers because no fghts are on TV chine gets behind it once again. a good fghter,” said Salters, who but likes what she has seen. She ad- “I think what I would do if I had was stopped by the larger Ali in four mires amateur star Christina Cruz, a fghter who had the package – can rounds in 2003. “But I think that she who has won six New York Golden fght, can speak, would be very pro- used boxing to get her someplace Gloves titles. She also is impressed motable to the fans – I would just get else. I handed over the reins to Laila with top amateur Mikaela Mayer, as out there and personally sell the hell Ali but she didn’t have the personal- well as pro champions Kaliesha West out of [her],” Salters said. “Maybe ity that endeared the fans to her. She and Mariana Juarez. She believes the [the fghters] don’t have that driv- didn’t want to take the time to be talent level in women’s boxing has ing force behind them and maybe with the real people and sometimes improved steadily since her early they’re intimidated like I was. When fghters forget who is buying the days in the sport. I was 20 years old, I sure wasn’t go- tickets.” St. John, 45, feels the same way. ing to be as outspoken as I am now St. John attributes the decline in “Nowadays, there’s a lot of girls at 44, but I learned through those women’s boxing in the U.S. to poor out there fghting better than a lot years that you have to be. They have television ratings. of men that I see,” she said. “And to fnd a promoter that’s willing “The fans have to want it,” said St. again, I don’t think it’s any fault of to take the risk to put them in the John, who is preparing to fght wel- the women. I think it’s just the lack places King put me.” terweight champ Cecilia Braekhus of real interest from the fans. Kery Davis, senior vice president of on April 13 in Denmark. “If the “It’s kind of like women’s basket- programming for HBO Sports, offers networks don’t get the viewership, ball: The talent’s there, but are the some hope for women’s boxing. they’re not gonna sell it. The only Sparks going to bring in the people at “Women’s boxing is still very thing the networks care about is Staples Center that the Lakers do?” young,” Davis told THE RING. ratings. If the fans don’t tune in to Salters doesn’t think the situation “The grass-roots programs, the watch, the networks will eventually is grave, however. She remembers Olympic Games and the profes- drop them. That’s what happens. We how an opportunity handed to her sional ranks are still very early in weren’t getting the ratings.” by King blossomed into something development and we’re monitoring Salters said she hasn’t closely fol- special. Can it happen again? She the progress.” n

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 109 WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO ...? A PERIODIC FEATURE IN WHICH WE CATCH UP TO STARS OF THE PAST

ARMANDO MUNIZ

YEARS ACTIVE 1970-1978 RECORD 44-14-1 (30 knockouts) ACCOMPLISHMENTS Represented U.S. in 1968 Mexico City Olympics; won NABF welterweight title CURRENT HOMETOWN Jarupa Valley, Calif. WORK Bail bonds business with his son ACTIVITIES Local politics; karaoke with Former welterweight contender Armando Muniz (left, with actor Tony Danza) has fared his wife well in retirement. Muniz’s boxing career peaked in the mid-1970s. ARMANDO MUNIZ

By: Don Stradley The native of Mexico was one of the sport. We had good f ghts at the the bright lights of 1970s California Olympic even if there was no head- ife after boxing is perplexing boxing, defeating such top welter- liner. Pure boxing, lots of knock- Lfor many f ghters. Not Armando weights as Clyde Gray, Ernie Lopez, outs. Muniz. The former welterweight Hedgemon Lewis and Pete Ranzany. “My manager thought it would contender has had a successful run Muniz fell short in WBC title bids be a good idea for me to f ght Emile since his retirement in 1978. He en- against Jose Napoles (twice) and Griff th. My manager said ‘Griff th joyed a stint with the Schlitz Brewing Carlos Palomino (twice) and f nally is getting up there in age.’ I knew Company and then a lengthy career retired after a stoppage loss to Sugar he was a great f ghter; he gave me as a high school math and Spanish Ray Leonard. a boxing lesson. I lost, but the fans teacher. Muniz’s resume contains one sore gave me a good grade for trying. I “I always want to let boxing fans spot: his March 30, 1975 loss to Na- was a young whippersnapper, trying know that I am doing OK and that poles in Acapulco. Muniz, 67, spoke to hurt him. You know what he did all of the punches I took – and I took to THE RING recently about that when I hurt him? He hit my eye with quite a few – did not impair me as f ght and other topics: his thumb. I take my hat off to him. they did other boxers,” Muniz told “Fighting at the Olympic Audi- He was the most skilled f ghter I ever THE RING. torium was super exciting. I used fought, along with Napoles. Muniz lives east of Los Angeles to pass by it when I was a kid and “Find the f rst Napoles f ght on in Jurupa Valley and works in the say ‘Someday I want to main event YouTube. I was battering him in the bail bonds business with his son. “I there.’ It was a dream come true, 10th round. In the 11th round he make myself part of the community hearing the fans chant ‘Armando! threw 12 or 14 low blows, but the and am involved politically,” he said. Armando!’ There was craziness, referee never warned him. I realized I “My wife and I are very social; you but I got used to it. In retrospect couldn’t win. I had to knock him out. might see us at the local VFW, where I’m glad I was part of it. I was 24, Then the doctor stepped in to look at the karaoke is popular.” 25, still going to college, but I loved Napoles’ cuts. I read the doctor’s lips

110 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 in Spanish, saying ‘He can’t contin- pens. I’m still bitter about the way it “Napoles and I are not buddy- ue.’ Then I noticed Jose Sulaiman ar- turned out. buddy, but we have a friendly rela- guing with the doctor. Sure enough, “Sulaiman’s family invited me to tionship. When we found out he was they gave the fght to Napoles. They Cancun a few years ago for a WBC broke, some people arranged a big said I butted him. convention. They treated me well. fund-raising dinner for him. They “Years later I asked Sulaiman what I think Sulaiman’s son invited me, asked me to be the emcee for the eve- happened. Sulaiman said, ‘Napoles maybe to make amends. I still run ning. After dinner Napoles came to is my friend. I had to protect him.’ into people who say, ‘Armando, you me and said, ‘About what happened This was my life, and he doesn’t give won that fght.’ I’m glad they say in Acapulco, it wasn’t my fault.’ I a s---. If Sulaiman wants a fghter to that, but it doesn’t change my fnan- told him I understand. We’re just the be champion, he’ll make sure it hap- cial situation. fghters.” n

IZING COM AN M G IT R T O E E S R ( B E

X C

O ) B BOC Visit THE RING’s • •

new YouTube channel ... F O 8 U 9 8 TheRingDigital N D E D 1

Boxers Organizing Committee (BOC)

Paul Johnson Executive Director

763-438-2447 [email protected] www.boxers.org

Attention Boxers: Please contact us to discuss your rights!

“Boxers must be part of the equation.” — BOC Member José Chegüi Torres

THE ring magazinE - maY 2013 111 FROM THE ARCHIVE

ON THE BUTTON: The great Salvador Sanchez (right) made Danny “Little Red” Lopez his personal punching bag in two memorable f ghts in 1980. Sanchez, a relative unknown at the time, lifted Lopez’s WBC featherweight title on Feb. 2 with a 13th- round knockout. In the June 21 rematch (pictured here) Lopez fought bravely but was picked apart and beaten up again by a superior f ghter. Sanchez won the second f ght by a 14th-round knockout. The Mexican idol successfully defended his title seven more times before he was killed in a car accident in 1982. He was only 23.

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.

112 THETHE RING RING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE - MAY- MAY 2013 2013 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 113 1. 2.

1. Abel Guzman (left) with Brandon Rios at the Juan Manuel Marquez-Manny Pacquiao f ght last December in Las Vegas. 2. Hari K. Samaroo (left) and Rajendra K. Samaroo f ank Danny Garica after the Adrien Broner-Antonio DeMarco f ght last November in Atlantic City, N.J. 3. Dino Diliberto (right) with Glen Johnson after Johnson fought Andrzej Fonfara last July in Chicago. 4. Alexandra Izzo with Adrien Broner with the gloves she painted at a news conference in New York City to promote the Broner-Gavin Rees f ght. 5. Former Golden Gloves boxer Angelo Colella (right) with former welterweight champ Tony DeMarco at an amateur boxing card last August in Somerville, Mass. 6. Victor Montes de Oca (right) with Marco Antonio Barrera at the Marquez- Pacquiao f ght in December.

4. 5.

WANT TO SEE YOURSELF IN RING MAGAZINE?

Send us your photos from a f ght with you posing next to a celebrity, athlete, or other famous person and we will consider it for publication in the magazine. Send photos to [email protected]. Make sure to include your name(s), celebrity name(s), the f ght attended, and your contact information. See you at the f ghts!

114 THETHE RING RING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE - -MAY MAY 2013 2013 THE RING MAGAZINE - MAY 2013 115