By Ben Pierce
21.10 - This column will be a weekly look at all the news and happenings in the boxing world and present my view, from the back of the bus...from the cheap seats! It will provide a chance to look back over all the weeks action, the upcoming bouts and the gossip circulating in and around boxing. So hold on tight, this week we will talk about the heavies, Mesi and Clay-Bey, the prospects Diaz, Juarez and Bojado, as well as sling a few arrows and have some fun with those involved in boxing...all from the cheap seats!
The weekend review....
Joe Mesi took a step up in the Heavyweight division, taking on David Izon this weekend. He not only proved the skeptics wrong, but also made himself into a threat for most of the top contenders in that weight division. Mesi fought a smart fight, dominated Izon and made him look older than his years. Things can only get tougher for Mesi from here, but the guy showed skills I had never seen him display before. He still has more to prove to play with the big boys, but I was impressed with his showing.
Lawrence Clay-Bey impressed me even more than Mesi with his second round stoppage of Sedrick Fields. This guy has the tools, just needs much more activity and a lot more polish to get into the mix at Heavyweight. Clay-Bey, beset by injuries and other problems, has been in the ring with some of the top guys at Heavyweight as an amateur and showed Friday night that he still has the skills to be a player. But at thirty six years old, Clay-Bey must move now and move quickly.
The young prospects were featured this weekend and all added to their already stellar records with a victory. Juan Diaz looked super in a sixth round stoppage of Roy Delgado. Rocky Jaurez methodical as ever, earned a hard fought decision over Hector Acero-Sanchez and Francisco Bojada returned to the ring after a self imposed eight month layoff to dispose of Frankie Sanchez in a dominating decision. Bojado still seems to be the young prospect with the most talent, but also seems to lack the heart and dedication that the others possess.
Oh did I forget to mention...Vivian Harris stunned many, including his opponent, Diobelys Hurtoda, with a second round knockout win. A left-right combo sent Hurtado to the canvas and his wobbly legs betrayed him causing the fight to be stopped. Harris, ecstatic in victory, won the WBA belt at 140 pounds. The WBA recognizes Kostya Tszyu as the Super Champion at that weight. Tszyu is super, but there can be only one champion there, sanctioning fees aside. The WBA should be ashamed. (yes, I said that...)
On the lighter side...
Which reminds me, I am hearing rumors that certain boxing magazine might be coming out with a new puppet! It will be called the Max Yellerman puppet and will walk and talk, excuse me, I mean yell, as you pull the strings. Manufacturing problems have arisen in enabling the puppet to speak, seems all they can get it to say is "real champion"! But it says that a lot! I understand they are also making two other versions of the puppet, Stevie and Dougie, both close friends with the original puppet, Max. You might want to consider purchasing all three, though they all repeat the same words and you probably won't be the first to have bought them.
What is up with Roy Jones Jr.? Is he going to fight John Ruiz or not? It seems everybody but Roy Jones has said the fight is a done deal. Maybe Roy is waiting to find out if he made the basketball team he tried out for last weekend, before making his final decision. Maybe we need Regis Philbin to get his final answer, but if I know RJJ, he will want to use all three lifelines before answering!
Floyd Mayweather Sr., still talking trash about his fellow trainers. He has called Jack Mosley a joke in the past and now in a recent interview, said Emanuel Steward should be in the Hall of Shame, instead of the Hall of Fame. Someone needs to clue the former drug trafficker, now boxing trainer, into the fact that you make your name in boxing by what your fighters do inside the ring, not by constantly downing others to try to build up yourself. Mayweather always has a lot to say, he just never says much.
Bernard Hopkins has stepped up and his next big pay-per-view fight will be against top ranked, number one rated contender, Morrade Hakker! If you are asking who Hakker is, don't feel like you are the only one. This obscure Frenchman is a WBC mandatory defense for Hopkins' Middleweight title, but little more is known. Hakker has fought the same opponent four times and several other boxers twice in route to a 29-3 (16) record. Just please do not ask about who he has fought, as I recognized none of his foes.
Was Hopkins not one of the many critics of Roy Jones Jr. for fighting mandatory defenses and defending his championship belts? What a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black!
And yes, I said this was a pay-per-view bout. Hopkins has no television contract and his promoter Don King will televise this bout, hoping to make enough money to pay old Hopkins and his foe, after winning the purse bid for the fight. This may be one purse (bid) King wishes someone would have snatched from him!
Upcoming action....
Looks like a slim week of boxing action ahead, but just enough to keep us on the edge of our seats waiting for the great fights coming up next month. ESPN will feature Julian Wheeler against Levander Johnson on their Friday Night Fight card this week. Manny Pacquiao will defend his IBF Junior Featherweight title against Fabbrakob Rakkitgym in the Philippines, in a non-televised bout. ESPN will also feature a Sunday night card from Puerto Rico that has undefeated Alex Trujillo fighting Javier Jauregui and Angel Chacon pitted against John Michael Johnson.
Closing the door....
One has to laugh as the "Dean of all Boxing Writers", Michael Katz, takes a swipe at a few of his fellow boxing writers and their cohorts, calling them teeny boppers and children for their illogical, but unwavering support of Ring magazine. The "dean" was referring to Max Kellerman, Doug Fisher, Steve Kim and Dan Rafael. I found it quite amusing and Mr. Katz, if I had a penthouse in this column, you be the one on top. Michael Katz speaks his mind and the man knows how to write the words.
We will close out this week with much deserved salute to one of the finest boxing writers today, Michael Katz!
Until next week...your hands up and keep reaching for the stars!
Questions/Comments: benp1000@msn.com
