Boxing

 

From the cheap seats...

Ben Pierce

30.10 - Here we are again, as promised, bringing you my birds eye view of all the happenings in the boxing world as viewed from the nose bleed section... from the cheap seats! This week will review a very slow weekend of boxing, look at the upcoming fights including the Tapia-Barrera fight, take a peak into the battle of boxing promoters King and Arum, and of course poke some fun at those in and around boxing.

The week in review...

Manny Pacquiao showed why he is the best at Super Bantamweight, as he totally dominated Fabbrakob Rattiatgym. Pacquiao scored a first round TKO victory, with the referee mercifully stopping the bout near the end of the first round. Pacquiao dropped Rattiatgym four times and wasted no time in securing the win. The "Pac Man" was clearly too fast and strong for his foe. Rattiatgym was carried from the ring on a stretcher for medical evaluation and treatment. Paquaio retained his IBF title.

Javier Jauregui scored the big upset win over hometown favorite and previously unbeaten Alex Trujillo on the SRL promoted Sunday night fight card from Puerto Rico. The judges awarded him the unanimous decision with scores 115-113, 115-113 and 116-112.

Featherweight Angel Chacon also won a unanimous decision over former WBA champion John Michael Johnson on the same card to win the IBA title at featherweight.

On the lighter side....

I think there was more action in the courtroom than in the ring this week, as two of boxing biggest promoters, Don King and Bob Arum took swings at one another in the hallowed halls of justice. King alleges that Arum stole his prime Mexican superstar, Julio Cesar Chavez, while he was still under contract to King. It will be interesting to see how this saga plays out, as both promoters have been said to carry a suitcase of cash around from time to time, but just their petty cash fund, I am sure. I think this trial might not be about winning or losing, but how you place the blame! This courtroom battle would do better pay-per-view numbers than the upcoming Hopkins-Hakker fight!

I was wandering through my local Winn Dixie grocery store when I passed the magazine rack and to my surprise, right there next to all the wrestling magazines, was the beloved Ring magazine. I was quite surprised because I have never seen Ring available here, other than at one national bookstore. But I could not resist picking it up and leafing through the magazine. Even as little old ladies angrily bumped into my shopping cart and gave me dirty looks (that in comparison would make Bernard Hopkins look like a GQ model) for blocking the aisle, I scanned the December issue of " the bible of boxing". The lead editorial was about the Tyson-Lewis fight! No, I am not kidding. How long ago was that fight?

Looking through the rankings of this very thin magazine, I had to note their rankings have more vacancies than a hotel on a deserted island. If these are the only real champions, then we have very few champs in boxing today, none in the lighter weights! If I can use another writers words, if Ring magazine is "the bible of boxing" it is time for a new testament. And the bible has sure gotten a lot smaller than I remember, though it has been awhile since I bought one.

The WBA held an open meeting recently in New York to discuss their rankings and ESPN's resident megaphone, one of the WBA rankings biggest critics as of late, was not even present. Seems old Max can talk a lot (and loudly) behind a TV camera, but when it comes to meeting face to face, where problems can be addressed and hopefully solved, he was not able to travel the few miles down the street and attend this meeting. Reminds me of the age-old question: Why do people with closed minds always open their mouths? Max, you have the right to remain silent, please use it on occasion.


Upcoming action...

The showdown for the Featherweight crown is quickly approaching, as Johnny Tapia and Marco Antonio Barrera meet November 2nd at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada to decide who is the best Featherweight in boxing. This match up featuring two of boxing's most experienced ring warriors promises fireworks and action throughout.

These two fighters are similar in many ways, so lets take a quick look at a few facts about these two combatants! First, we will look at Tapia who began boxing in 1988 and brings a record of 52-2-2 (28) into this fight. He is 17-1-1 in championship fights. He fights an aggressive, in your face style; but has also shown the ability to box and control his aggression in big championship fights. Tapia has a tendency to cut, his nose has been broken twenty times, but Tapia also seems to fight his best once he feels some pain or sees his blood. He possesses great hand speed, agility, and can show great defense when he fights a controlled fight. Tapia's key to this fight will be sticking with the game plan laid out by trainer Freddie Roach and using his speed and boxing ability to keep Barrera at bay. Tapia needs to fight a controlled fight and win the fight on points.

Barrera started boxing in 1989 and has a record of 55-3-0 (39). He holds a 16-3 record in championship fights. Barrera, who has won his last six fights, is a versatile fighter. He fights intelligent, he can box and counter punch or he can slug it out. He can be aggressive in the ring, but has a tendency to start fights slowly and to feel out his opponent. Barrera's key to winning this fight will be to make Tapia fight his fight. He must fight from the inside, make the fight a slugfest and use his experience and ring generalship to wear down his foe over several rounds. Barrera must use the advantages of youth, size and of fighting at this weight longer than Tapia, to win this fight over the long haul.

So who will win? I like Barrera by late TKO, but the fight could go to the scorecards. I think Barrera will mix it up with Tapia. I see this fight starting slow and turning into a slugfest. A slugfest favors Barrera and I do not think Tapia can resist the temptation of getting into a war with Barrera. The bigger, younger man will win this one in the end.

Look for a close, action filled fight. These two warriors are both proud, both experienced, both world champions and this fight will go some rounds. I would not be surprised to see Tapia pull off the upset. I have heard he is in the best shape in years, better prepared than ever before and hungry, wanting this win. I still lean to Barrera by late TKO or possibly by decision if Tapia's heart keeps him there until the final bell.

In other action this weekend, undefeated prospect Ricardo Williams take a big step up in competition facing former champion, Terron Millett on the Tapia-Barrera undercard. Willie Jorrin will put his WBC Junior Featherweight championship on the line against Oscar Larios on ESPN Friday Night Fights. Undefeated Michael Sims will line up against Yosuke Nishijima on the same card. Sunday night on Foxsports, Montel Griffin steps in the ring with George Khalid Jones and the old warrior Yori Boy Campas laces them up again and faces Kirino Garcia, to round out a great weekend of boxing action.

Closing the door...

We will close out this week by sending out kudos to Charles Jay of totalaction.com and the author of "Operation Cleanup", a detailed report of the problems facing boxing today.

I may not always agree with the methods or solutions of Jay, but he is a man who backs up his words with actions. Jay traveled over a thousand miles to attend the recent meeting held by the WBA to discuss their rankings. This when many of boxing's most vocal journalists and personalities could not make a short trip down the street to attend. Jay not only talks the talk, but walks the walk.

Until next week, keep your hands up and keep reaching for the stars!

Questions/Comments: benp1000@msn.com

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