02.02.07 – By Chris Morris, RockyMountainBoxing.com: This weekend the Rocky Mountain Region fared pretty well between the ropes as Stevie ‘Lil’ But Bad’ Johnston’s return to lightweight proved successful, Nate “The Great” Marquardt won his mixed martial arts (MMA) bout on the Ultimate Fighting Championship card televised by Spike T.V. and some of our ‘ham-n-eggers’ got work with the expected results. The ‘Boxing From The Rockies’ calendar includes news on Thornton based prospect Mike Alvarado, who is promoted by Top Rank and managed by the highly regarded Shelly Finkel, and the announcement of the first local fight card for ‘07 in addition to the return of Aurora’s heavyweight hopeful Davarryl ‘Touch-Of-Sleep’ Williamson. There are some tidbits from Colorado’s Fighting Females and Amateur Action too so read on for this week’s edition of Rocky Mountain Rumble-ings!
Lil’ But Bad Is Back!
Denver native, now transplanted to Vero Beach, Florida to be closer to his promoter and trainer, Stevie “Lil’ But Bad” Johnston, 40-4-1, 18kos, made his return to lightweight a successful one as he out pointed up and coming prospect Tyrone Harris, 18-3, 13kos, over 12 rounds to earn a majority decision. A ’majority decision’ is when one judge scores the bout even but is overridden by the two remaining who score it in favor of the winner. By all accounts it was a tougher than expected fight as Harris had a good southpaw jab to go with his fast hands and quick combinations. Johnston used his experience and ring generalship to make the rounds close and earn the decision.
Johnston was wise in making the move five pounds south to lightweight. At only 5’2” tall he was easily handled in his last fight at junior welter by a much bigger and stronger ‘Vicious’ Vivian Harris, albeit on short notice, who coincidentally is scheduled to fight the man who gave Johnston his previous loss, Juan Lazcano.
I remember the Lazcano fight very well as my fiancée and I made the trip to Vegas to see it live. The bout was a WBC eliminator and the co-main event to the De La Hoya-Mosley pay per view rematch back in September of ‘04. This was also the first fight I ever bet ‘official’ money on at the casino and obviously lost my $100 wager.
I thought it was a ‘lock’ that Johnston would beat Lazcano. My father and I had traveled (this was back when I lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming) down to both of Johnston’s fights in Denver and was thoroughly impressed. Plus he was on a 5 fight win streak. He stopped Julio Alvarez in two and had lost a very controversial decision to the then relatively unknown Jose Luis Castillo in Los Angeles. The rematch was in Denver and although I felt Johnston won a very close fight, as was originally announced, the score cards were added incorrectly and rather than a majority decision for Johnston it was a draw which allowed Castillo to retain the title.
We didn’t know about the decision change until a friend called to let us know on the drive back to Wyoming. I couldn’t believe it. We were honestly dumbfounded. I can only imagine how Johnston must have felt. Going from the highest of highs, winning back his championship, to the lowest of lows, knowing the belt is no longer yours.
People can say what they want about the former world champ but he showed me exactly what he was made of that night. Castillo didn’t know about the score card snafu until there was a knock at his dressing room door. Imagine his surprise seeing Johnston standing there with the belt. Rather than send an official to break the news Johnston hand delivered the belt back to the rightful owner and champion, Jose Luis Castillo.
What a long walk over and longer walk back.
That my friends is pure class.
The bout last weekend shows how slippery the slope is on the way out of boxing. Johnston’s fight this weekend was part of a ‘marathon’ of title fights and he wasn’t even the main event. Gone are the days of being managed by well known Cameron Dunkin and promoted by Top Rank and fighting for the WBC World Title. Now he is with Jim Ryder and Silverhawk Boxing and he picked up something called the IBA title.
Although Johnston is clearly on the backside of a very respectable career, hopefully he can make some decent paydays and get out with all his senses and faculties intact.
Boxing From The Rockies Calendar
The first local fight card of the year is scheduled courtesy of Steve Mestas and Airtight Boxing. They are set to go March 15th although the venue is up in the air. Mestas usually sells out the Paladium but isn’t getting the deal he needs so he maybe taking his show on the road, possibly to Colorado Springs. Headlining will be the ever popular “Red Hot” Rob Frankel, 18-6, 3kos.
Powerhouse prospect Mike Alvarado, puts his undefeated record, 15-0, 10kos, on the line for the cameras of Telefutura February 13th in Chicago. He will take on a very credible opponent in Carlos Molina. Molina’s ‘claim to fame’ is putting the first blemish on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s record in the form of a 6 round draw that many felt he won outright. They fought a rematch resulting in another controversial decision, a majority decision for Chavez Jr. An impressive win here will put him in position to challenge Chavez Jr. This is a real possibility as both are promoted by Top Rank and they were working towards a showdown with New Mexico’s Vicente Garcia before his untimely murder and also Ray Sanchez III. Top Rank may now elect to test Chavez against Alvarado. If this fight is made I would have to favor Alvarado based on his power and experience. Alvarado is in a position to be Colorado’s next world champ.
Jim “Smitty” Smith and Poor Boys Pro Boxing have their first fight card of the year scheduled for the day before St. Patrick’s Day, March 16th. Smitty is an old school Irishman and he hosts a show every year for the holiday. This year’s show will be a private show, no tickets available to the public, held at the Denver Athletic Club. The DAC hosts this benefit show each year as a fund raiser for local charities.
Former world champ Verno Phillips, 40-10-1, 21kos, is still seeking a credible opponent for his ESPN date February 16th. Banner Promotions, who currently promote Phillips, have him scheduled against Eduardo Sanchez, 15-5-2, 9kos. Sanchez made his name beating then Ring Magazine rated JC Candelo taking the fight at the weigh in when Candelo’s original opponent was a no show. Coincidentally, Candelo is back in Denver training with Phillips’ trainer Trevor Wittman at T’s K.O. Fight Club in Lakewood. Phillips management team is trying to land an opponent in the top 10 so as to lead to another title shot. Regardless, with a win Phillips will solidify a spot for himself on the Acelino Freitas vs Joel Casamayor rematch. Phillips is ranked #4 by the IBF and #15 by the WBC.
Heavyweight contender Davarryl “Touch of Sleep” Williamson, 23-4, 19kos, is scheduled to fight at the MGM in Vegas on the undercard of the Casamayor-Diaz clash. No opponent has been named. Hopefully Don King, Williamson’s promoter, will keep him busy this year as he only fought once in ‘06 stopping previously undefeated Mike Mollo back in May.
Super feather weight prospect Manny Perez’, 6-2, 2kos, bout this weekend in Washington fell apart when his opponent pulled out of the fight on Friday. David “Body Damage” Hernandez, 4-4-2, 2kos, will fight Steve Conklin, 4-2-1, 0ko, on the same card as scheduled.
“The Native Sensation” J.J. Corn, 47-16-2, 26kos, has signed on for a high profile bout with Raul Marquez, 38-3, 27kos, on March 16th. Interestingly Marquez’ last fight was against Durango’s Elco Garcia.
Weekend Review
This past weekend we had some fighters from Colorado or with Colorado ties fighting on the road. First and foremost heavyweight Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell, 11-1, 11kos, who is now training with Dickie Woods in Colorado Springs, stopped Ergin Solmaz in the second round on the fight card from Sweden.
Suzannah Warner, 7-3, 2kos, who turned pro with Krishna Wainright in Colorado Springs, won a bout on the undercard of the Battle in the Bronx card. She stopped Puerto Rico’s Nancy Bonilla in the second round.
Breakfast Anyone?
Colorado’s ‘ham & eggers’ got some work this weekend as well. Mercedes Mercury, 3-9, 1ko, from Aurora, was stopped in the second round of her fight in Chicago by Brooke Dierdorff, 2-0, 2kos. Dierdorff won the Chicago Golden Gloves in ‘05 and took the silver in the National Golden Gloves the same year. Journeyman Brad Jensen, 14-22-3. 5kos, of Evergreen, lost a six round unanimous decision to Ronnie Warrior Jr., 12-2-1, 3kos, in Oklahoma.
Amateur Action
In amateur action Lakewood’s flyweight Shawn Nichol earned gold at the Pan American games qualifier at 112 pounds and will be representing the USA at the games to be held in Caracas, Venezuela. The tournament runs from February 1st through the 10th. Light heavy weight Christopher Downs, from the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) in Colorado Springs will also be boxing in the tournament in addition to super heavyweight Mike Wilson who is trained by Dickie Woods, also in the Springs.
Fighting Females
Colorado’s first female world champ, Teri “Lil’ Loca” Cruz, 15-4-2, 7kos, will be making the second defense of her IFBA bantamweight title on a card to be held at the Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio on April 7th with an opponent yet to be announced. Cruz’s first defense was in Korea where she won a unanimous decision over Eun Young Kim.
In The Cage
From the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Nate “The Great” Marquardt won in very dominating fashion over Jiu Jitsu specialist Dean “Boogey Man” Lister. Judges score cards read 30-27 and 30-25×2 which reflect the Marquardt’s dominance including 6 knock downs and never being in any real trouble throughout the fight. He was asked after the fight when or how many fights it would take before he would be ready for a shot at the champion, Anderson Silva. Without hesitation Marquardt replied, “I’m ready right now! Hopefully the fans want to see that fight, if so let us know!” Marquardt’s question was met with a chorus of cheers further cementing his spot as a top contender.
Sven Bean’s MMA promotion, Ring of Fire, has their next event planned for February 16th at the brand spanking new Broomfield Event Center. The main event will feature superstar Duane “Bang” Ludwig against Pancrase fighter Shinya Kamuzawa of Okinawa, Japan. The undercard will feature local fighters including Andre “The Silencer” Walker, Alvin “Kid” Robinson and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Look for an article in the Rocky Mountain News on Sven Bean and his promotional company in the very near future.
Stealing The Round At The Bell
Did you guys happen to catch the Antonio Escalara, 14-2, 9kos vs. Mauricio Pastrana, 34-7-2, 22kos, fight on Telefutura Friday night? All I can say is too much too soon. Escalara only has 14 pro fights at least half of which have been televised. Naturally his promoter Golden Boy and matchmaker Eric Gomez are forced to keep stepping the kid up to tougher and tougher competition since he is always on TV. This weekend it caught up to them and Pastrana stretched the prospect with a perfect right hand on the chin. Maybe now they will slow down and give the kid some time to develop his skills in softer non televised bouts. Gomez has also gotten Vicente Escobedo and Aaron Garcia beat last year. I wonder how Ishe Smith will fare against Sechew Powell.
Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik, 30-0, 27kos, on HBO Boxing After Dark (BAD) Saturday night was very impressive in taking out hardnosed Mexican Jose Luis Zertuche, 19-4-2, 14kos. He is still developing and has plenty of work to do, mainly on the defensive side of the gloves, but he is making a believer out of me. Not too long ago Showtime did a super middleweight tourney in conjunction with the IBO with an 8 man bracket and the winner becoming the IBO champ. I’d love to see something similar at middleweight, the match up possibilities make for some very interesting fights. Allan Green and Edison Miranda are already scheduled but add to that recognized champ Jermain Taylor, Kelly Pavlik, Arthur Abraham, Winky Wright, Contender star Sergio Mora and you could then throw in John Duddy and Felix Sturm or Sam Soliman for some international flair. That should cover most styles pretty well. Miranda is a huge puncher, Green is a polished boxer, Abraham is a proven contender, Winky Wright is a defensive wizard and southpaw, Mora and Soliman are extremely awkward and unconventional, Sturm boxes in the European style and Duddy and Pavlik are both accomplished amateurs with undefeated records with Duddy being Irish and Pavlik bringing boxing’s ‘color of money’ to the dance. He’s not a green martian, he’s a white boy who can flat out fight!
Until we touch ‘em up again, protect yourselves at all times and don’t stop punchin’ ‘til your final bell!
Chris “Polish Hitman” Morris