Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays from all of us at Boxing Digest. We hope you have a great, healthy and happy New Year.
Thanks also to our round card beauties from Rick's Cabaret. Look for Santa's helper, Sky, in our upcoming February issue. We don't know if she's been naughty or nice.
'Tis The Season
Deck the Halls with sacks of toys. Boxing Digest was happy to support Rick’s Cabaret New York in a Toys for Tots Drive for needy children. The NY club ran an event that featured free admission to customers who brought in an unwrapped toy.
The club hosted a party on Dec. 17 with some of Rick’s girls dressed in Santa outfits to the delight of the Marines who stopped in to pick up and deliver the toys. Check back to this site and pick up our upcoming issues to see Santa's helpers (pictured here) as our round card beauties.
Boxing Charity Event
The Police vs. Firemen “Charity Toughman Competition" featured Rick’s Cabaret Girls as Round Card Girls.
The Yonkers Police and Firefighters held their annual Toughman charity competition that attracted over 3,000 people to its night of boxing matches. Tickets were reasonably priced at $25 and all proceeds went to "Heartsong," a children's charity, that provides musical and art therapy programs for children with disabilities.
The round card girls who donated their time and services were from Rick's Cabaret in midtown Manhattan. If you recognized a couple of them, it's because they were featured in past issues of Boxing Digest as our "Round Card Beauties." Look for our latest beauty, Sky (pictured above) in our next issue.
The evening was a lot of fun, and all for a good cause. The Police won some bouts, and the firefighters won some. It was about even. The Heartsong charity was the winner in the end.
BROCK SMASH!
Brock Lesnar is the Incredible Hulk in the flesh. He is a force of nature, a super-powered heavyweight with the quickness and agility of a man half his size. Whether it’s gamma radiation, or something else that’s giving him his powers is immaterial. What matters is that he can smash. On Nov. 15, Lesnar faced Randy Couture, the All-American Boy Scout and UFC heavyweight titleholder. And he smashed.
Lesnar was initially scheduled to face Mark Coleman, an aged veteran of the eight-walled ring. But an injured Coleman forced the UFC to up the ante and give a title shot to the professional wrestler turned mixed martial artist. Brock went into the fight with a 2-1 record, and many felt the title shot was undeserved given how green the former WWE star really was. However, in his three fights, even his loss, no one could deny Lesnar had skill. It took him a little over one minute to take down and pummel Olympic silver medalist Min-Soo Kim into a quivering mass of helpless flesh. In his UFC debut, he lost to former champ Frank Mir, succumbing to Mir’s wily submission game, but only after nearly putting the jiu-jitsu fighter’s head through the canvas. Then he relentlessly pummeled a game but completely outmatched Heath Herring, who was once in title contention himself.
But Randy Couture was a legend. Defying age, height and weight disadvantages, he’d notched wins over much younger and larger opponents by out-strategizing. Everyone wondered whether the UFC’s resident giant killer could do it again.
The answer, in short, was no. The first round began with Couture beating Lesnar to the punch but suffering hard punches and multiple volleys of vicious knees to the midsection. Each time the champ engaged he scored, but came out visibly worn. Lesnar took Couture down and pressed his massive bulk on top of the champ. Couture tried to counter with a jiu-jitsu half-guard defense and managed to get to his feet, but only after expending a lot of energy. The behemoth was too big, too strong, and too aggressive.
Couture started the second round by cutting the giant with a perfectly timed shot. The crowd was galvanized, believing the champ might work his magic and pull off yet another victory. But it was not to be. Lesnar caught Randy with a grazing overhand right. Any other fighter and it wouldn’t have been much of a shot, but Lesnar’s massive frame gave the shot enough force to send the champ crashing to the canvas. Lesnar followed up with a ground assault. At first it seemed Randy might defend, but after a few hammerfists the ref stepped in to call the fight in favor of the new champ.
Lesnar’s first test will come early next year as he will be forced to defend his title against the winner of Mir vs. Nogueira. If he’s developed enough to defeat either of these two submission winners then he’ll truly be a legitimate champion. Though the smart money still says he’s a bit green and that the title will be up for grabs once again.
Roy Jones Jr. Stops By Kingsway Gym
Roy Jones Jr., Zab Judah, and Francisco Figueroa appeared at Kingsway Gym in Manhattan to promote their upcoming “Battle of the Superpowers” fight card on Nov. 8 at MSG. Kids from the Children’s Village boxing program were invited to attend to meet with the fighters and get autographs. The Children’s Village boxing program is a partner with the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
Jones, 52-4 (38), posed for photos with the kids and worked the speed bag as they surrounded him to watch. He was asked whether Hopkins’ virtuoso performance against Pavlik gave him any further motivation. But Roy said he wasn’t interested in Hopkins and downplayed the Philadelphian’s victory, explaining that it was clear Kelly Pavlik did not belong at light heavyweight. Roy said he is only focused on defeating the unbeaten Joe Calzaghe, 45-0 (32), and that the Welshman provides a much bigger challenge for him than any scenario involving Hopkins, regardless of their history or the “Executioner’s” resurgence.
Zab Judah, 36-6-0-2NC (25), who attended the informal media event sporting an outfit from his own clothing line, Judah Wear, will be returning to the junior welterweight division for the first time since 2003. His welterweight campaign, which included a stint as the undisputed champion of the weight division, ended with a record of 6-5-0-1NC (3). Last time out, Judah lost a close fight to Joshua Clottey by technical decision after the fight was halted due to an eye injury he sustained.
Southpaw junior welterweight prospect, Francisco Figueroa, 19-2 (13), was set to face former WBA 140lb. titleholder Gavin Rees, but Rees had to withdraw having broken his nose in training. Regardless, Figueroa is excited to be fighting for the first time under Roy Jones’ promotional company, Square Ring. He’s been training in Las Vegas with trainer Buddy McGirt, who is also working to get Paulie Malignaggi ready for his Nov. 22 fight against Ricky Hatton. While at Kingsway Gym, Figueroa did a light workout in the ring and then jumped rope.
Dmitriy Salita, 28-0-1 (16), who could not attend the event, is yet again without an opponent after replacement Willie Limond backed out. Salita was originally scheduled to challenge WBA 140lb. titlist Andreas Kotelnik, but the champion pulled out for medical as well as financial reasons. At this moment, Derrick Campos, 17-5 (10), appears to be the likely candidate to face Salita.
Out With the Old? Not For Hopkins or Klitschko
On Oct. 18, at the age of 43, Bernard Hopkins once again proved he’s not finished yet, despite what his many critics believed. Over twelve one-sided rounds, Hopkins, 49-5-1 (32), shut down middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, now 34-1 (30), to hand the Youngstown, OH, native his first loss. Hopkins simply had too many tools to outpunch and frustrate the slower and one-dimensional Pavlik. The fight was similar to Hopkins’ dismantling of Antonio Tarver two years ago. Just as many people doubted Hopkins then as they did leading up to Saturday’s fight. “Ninety percent of the media picked Pavlik,” said Hopkins. “I always appreciate naysayers. That is what motivates me, when people are against me.”
Realizing that Pavlik is the future, Hopkins gave his beaten foe some advice after the fight. “I was a fan of yours before and I’m a fan now. You need to get a little more slickness, listen to your coach and bend your knees more. Don’t let this get you down. You're a middleweight champion and middleweight is your destiny.”
As for Hopkins’ immediate plans, the “Executioner” is anxiously awaiting the Nov. 8 Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. showdown to be held at MSG. Hopkins would love to get revenge on either Calzaghe or Jones, both of whom hold victories over him.
One week prior to Pavlik-Hopkins, 37-year-old Vitali Klitschko, 36-2 (35), returned from a near four-year layoff to dominate Sam Peter in Hamburg, Germany to regain the WBC heavyweight belt. Peter had no answer for Klitschko’s stinging jab and combinations. After eight rounds of punishment, Peter, now 30-2 (23), retired on his stool, ending the fight.
Vitali and his brother Wladimir, who holds the IBF, IBO, and WBO belts, have now accomplished their dream of becoming the only brothers to hold world titles in the same weight class simultaneously. Of course, because of that and their refusal to face each other, heavyweight unification will have to wait.
Both Klitschkos have mandatories due. Wladimir is scheduled to face Alexander Povetkin, 16-0 (12), on Dec. 13 in Germany. Vitali’s mandatory is former WBC cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez, 44-1-0-1NC (35).
The only other heavyweight with a major title belt is Nikolai Valuev, 49-1-0-1NC (34). Scheduled to face WBA titleholder Ruslan Chagaev, Valuev won the vacant belt by decisioning John Ruiz in a rematch after Chagaev suffered an injury and was demoted to “Champion in Recess.” Whenever he is cleared to fight, Valuev must face Chagaev, 24-0-1 (17), in a rematch. Chagaev won the title by handing Valuev his only loss last year.
The Bat Boy Helps
Former Golden Gloves competitor and New York Times best selling author Ray Negron has released his second children’s book, The Greatest Story Never Told. Negron’s new book focuses on two chronically ill boys, Skippy and Conner. The boys don’t get along because they see each other as “different.” Ray enters as a New York Yankee's bat boy who takes the pair on a magical journey to meet Babe Ruth. The Bambino then brings them to Ebbets Field to meet Jackie Robinson. The Babe and Jackie share some experiences and the boys learn their lesson and become best friends.
This book is similar to Negron’s first book, The Boy of Steel, about a boy who meets old time baseball Hall of Famers through a magic room in Yankee Stadium.
Negron is currently promoting his book through signings at larger book stores. On Oct. 19, he visited a Barnes & Noble in New York, meeting with young fans. For more information on the books and signings check out www.batboyhelps.com
Kimbo Down...Out?
Street-fighter turned MMA poster boy, Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson was on the receiving end of a ferocious beatdown on Oct. 4 in Elite XC’s third foray into primetime network television. Since transitioning to MMA, Elite’s promoters have heralded the internet sensation as an elite prospect in the heavyweight division. But in his last fight Kimbo was barely able to eke out a controversial win against lackluster journeyman, James Thompson. And in this fight, Seth Petruzelli, a last minute stand-in for an injured Ken Shamrock, proved what many knew to be true; Kimbo needs a lot of work to make it in the big leagues.
Petruzelli, a Ft. Myers native whose fighting career drifted downwards after a brief stint of fame (thanks to an appearance on the reality show, The Ultimate Fighter), is another example of a real-life Rocky Balboa. Originally set to fight on the non-televised portion of the promotion, he was widely regarded as the kind of B-level fighter relegated to smalltime obscurity. But even the B-level skill set of Petruzelli was too much for Kimbo.
After charging at his opponent like a crazed bull, Kimbo seemed confused by Petruzelli’s karate-trained front kicks. The first shut his momentum and the second, a perfect feint, set up a stiff jab that sent Kimbo falling like a downed tree. The Floridian karate fighter turned up the heat and followed up with a series of hard blows to a prone and completely non-defending Kimbo, which forced the referee’s stoppage at 14 seconds after the opening bell.
So what’s in store for Kimbo now? As diehard MMA fans laugh with shadenfraude as Elite’s paper tiger was exposed, many are already counting him out of fighting. But this loss can be a positive for the Miami street-fighter. The fact of the matter is that Kimbo is very new to the MMA game, and should never have been put in as a main event star. The loss will allow him to develop normally as a rookie should and give him room to succeed and fail like any other fighter. Perhaps after about three years or so of hard work maybe he will become the champion his handlers at Elite envisioned.
Oscar, Manny and Lady Liberty
Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao kicked off their six-city press tour in New York City at the Statue of Liberty to promote their Dec. 6 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, televised by HBO PPV. While fans of each faction shouted back and forth, the advertisers, HBO executives, promoters, managers and trainers took time at the podium before the fighters greeted the rowdy crowd. Golden Boy Promotions’ CEO Richard Schaefer said he was proud to present a fight between “the two most exciting fighters in the world today.”
There was much talk about the vast size difference between Oscar and Manny. While Oscar, 39-5 (30), has mainly been fighting as a junior middleweight (154lbs.) for the last eight years, Manny, 47-3-2 (35), has only recently reached the lightweight limit (135lbs.) in his last fight. The plan is for Oscar and Manny to meet at the welterweight limit of 147lbs. “Sugar” Shane Mosley jumped from lightweight to welterweight to dominate Oscar in 2000, but Shane was a natural lightweight. Manny started his career 13 years ago as a strawweight (105lbs.).
Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, assured the press, “We at Top Rank don’t take fights we don’t think we can win.” He cited a fight he was involved in 21 years ago between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and “Sugar” Ray Leonard, when Leonard jumped from welterweight to middleweight to upset the reigning champion. Arum went back a little further and brought up the fight between David and Goliath, and as Arum said, “We all know what happened there.”
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, echoed Arum’s confidence. From the very beginning of negotiations, Roach has been insistent that his fighter has what it takes to defeat Oscar, saying, “We’re going to take advantage of his (Oscar’s) strengths and weaknesses.” One interesting note to this fight is that Roach was in Oscar’s corner when he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year, so Roach knows De La Hoya real well. Now working with Oscar is the veteran trainer Nacho Beristain, who has been in the corner of 16 world champions thus far.
It was actually Roach’s hubris that peaked Oscar’s interest in this matchup. “When I read those reports [regarding Roach’s belief that Manny could beat Oscar],” said Oscar, “to me it was a threat. I felt challenged. I read those comments and I said, ‘Okay, let’s make it happen.’ With Pacquiao, there is no boring fight and that is what I’m looking forward to.”
When it was Pacquiao’s turn to speak he addressed the criticism the fight has received. “On Dec. 6, I will prove the critics are wrong. Fighting Oscar is an honor and a privilege. It’s no mismatch. I’ll be fighting to give honor to my country.”
The press tour will continue in Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Jack Johnson Pardon Bill Passes
PRESS RELEASE – Legislation authored by Representative Peter King (R-Seaford) to pardon the first black heavyweight boxing champion, John Arthur “Jack” Johnson, passed the House of Representatives on Sept. 25. The bill, H.Con.Res.214, calls for the President to posthumously pardon the boxing legend, who was wronged with a racially motivated conviction in 1913 under the Mann Act, which prohibited taking women across state lines for “immoral purposes.”
King, who trains at a boxing gym where he spars every week, said, “It has been 100 years since Jack Johnson became the first African-American man to win the heavyweight title, and this pardon is long overdue. He was a victim of the times and we need to set the record straight—clear his name—and recognize him for his groundbreaking contributions to the sport of boxing.”
In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first black heavyweight boxing champion after defeating Tommy Burns in Australia—a title he held until 1915. Prompted by his success in the boxing ring and his relationship with a white woman, Jack Johnson was wrongly convicted under the Mann Act when he brought the woman he was dating across state lines.
The intent of the Mann Act was to prevent human trafficking of women for the purpose of prostitution. However, racially motivated convictions imprisoned Jack Johnson for a year in 1913. The convictions ruined his career and destroyed his reputation.
“Jack Johnson was a trailblazer in the sport of boxing, who paved the way for future African American athletes,” said King. “He was a flamboyant and controversial character who shaped our American history with his athletic achievements in heavyweight boxing. His name should no longer bear the burden of a wrongly-placed, racially motivated conviction. It’s time we grant him the pardon.”
King, a lifelong boxing fan, first introduced this legislation to pardon Jack Johnson in 2004. His bill has been strongly supported by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), who has introduced the companion bill in the Senate in previous congresses.
Long May You Run
The entertainers at Rick's Cabaret held a charity event at the famous New York City gentlemen's club at 50 West 33rd Street. The beautiful girls raised thousands of dollars through donations and raffles to benefit the New York Road Runners "Team for Kids" cause. Danielle (right), pictured here with Boxing Diges's November-December Round Card Girl, Kristina, are both planning to participate in the marathon. Look for our new issue with Kristina on the newsstands and check back to the site for more photos.