By Ted Sares: Welcome to the first edition of the Boxing Loft where we will visit different global locations from time to time and talk boxing with the intent to make it a more participative session. I’m delighted to initiate the concept on ESB where the Scotch and Cigar Club became a staple for many visitors to check in. Of course cigars and drinks are still welcome, but due to the recession, you will need to BYO. I will be spinning the music, but you can add any music you wish. Remember, New Age and Fusion are verboten.
In a nod to our first location, the Windy City, the music tonight features the legendary Miles Davis who was a fight fan extraordinaire and also the great Chess Records performers Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Etta James, Willie Dixon, and Howlin’ Wolf. This was the embodiment of Chicago’s South and West Side “juke-joint” music that I grew up on.
Chicago
Chicago, once a boxing hub, is experiencing a minor resurgence that may make it a required stop between New York, Las Vegas, and LA. In 1949, boxing promoter James Norris and Chicago Stadium owner Arthur Wirtz formed the International Boxing Club, which controlled pro boxing competition, but it was eventually broken up by the federal government as a monopoly in 1957. During that time, the Chicago Stadium played host to many of the biggest fights in the country. In 1961, Wirtz ended boxing matches at the Stadium, and thereafter Chicago declined as a boxing town..
Since the early 1960’s, Chicago boxing has basically been a club sport, with fight cards featuring local boxers being held in hotels with many of the cards promoted by former heavyweight champion and Chicago native Ernie Terrell. Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions also is promoting a number of fights. But Cicero Stadium is now hosting regular boxing matches and resurgence, however slow, appears underway. Still, the fact that Chicago-born Michael “Big” Grant never fought there kind of tells the story.
Chicago boxing history is sprinkled with names like Leo Rodak, Holman Williams, Nate Bolden, Eddie Perkins, Milt Aron, Gene Spencer, Tony Zale, Willie Joyce, Eddie Perkins, Pate Lello, Johnny “Honey Boy” Bratton, Tony Musto, Freddie Dawson, Bob Satterfield, John Holman, Bob Foxworth, Anton Raadick, Luther Rawlings, Spider Webb, Pete Podgorski, Harold Dade, Terrell, Alfonzo Ratliff, Irish John Collins, Luke Capuano, Lenny Lapaglia, John Lira, the late Tony LaRosa, Joey DeGrandis, Freddy Cuevas, Kendall Gil, Anthony Ivory, Rocky Martinez, Louie Lomeli, Miguel Hernandez, Alonzo Ratliff, Craig Bodzianowski, Kenny Gould, Angel Manfredy, Andrew Golota, and LeeRoy Murphy may soon be complimented by newcomers like Kendall Gill, Mike Mollo and regrouping KO artist Donavan “Da Bomb” George, but sadly not by the promising Francisco “Paco” Rodriguez who died from injuries suffered in his bout with Teon Kennedy on November 20, 2009. The tragedy stunned the Chicago boxing community.
Of course, former world champion, David Diaz (35-3-1) fights on in the lightweight division. Another Illinois fighter, the great Gerald “The G-Man” McClellan (31-3), was also involved in a tragic bout when he was stopped by Nigel Benn in 1995, but that one has been fully vetted. Granite-jaw Oliver “The Atomic Bull” McCall was raised on the tough South Side of Chicago and won two Golden Gloves titles. The late Leotis Martin was great Golden Gloves fighter back in the day.
Do you have a choice for the next boxing location?
Now, let’s get comfortable in the loft which is located in Old Town section of The Windy City. And please–feel free to inject your own ideas on boxing topics, opinions, disagreement, or agreement. Let’s have some serious fun here.
First, my top ten Pound for Pound
Again, this is simply a snapshot in time and is different from my last listing.
1. Manny Pacquiao
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
3. Sergio Martinez
4. Nonito Donaire
4. Andre Ward
5. Lucien Bute
6. Juan Manuel Marquez
7. Timothy Bradley
8. Juan Manuel Lopez
9. Yuriorkis Gamboa
10. Abner Mares
Others closing in include Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Giovani Segura, Amir Khan, Carl Froch, Chad Dawson, Bernard Hopkins, Jean Pascal, Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko, and Marcos Maidana.
Still others soon to step up include David Lemieux, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, “James “The Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland, Brandon Rios, and Dimitry Pirog. In fact, if you wanted a “Most Exciting” list, these five would fit the bill just fine.
2. My top ten prospects
1. Kazuto Ioka
2. Jose Benavidez Jr.
3. Frankie Gavin
4. James DeGale
5. Frankie Gomez
6. Ismayl Sillakh
7. George Groves
8. Brad Solomon
9. Edwin Rodriguez
10. Fernando Guerrero
Also noteworthy and closing in area: Matt Korobov, Marcus “Too Much” Johnson, Rakhim Chakhkiev, Raul Hirales Jr , Rico Ramos, Sadam Ali, Ran Nakash, Seth Mitchell, and Shawn Porter. Prospect to forget: Lateef Kayode (16-0 with 14 KOs) who is trained by Freddie Roach. Arm punching his way to 14 consecutive knockouts against poor opposition, I have been less than impressed by this well built Nigerian-born cruiserweight.
I have not included many of the Cuban defectors as prospects due to their huge amateur backgrounds.
3) Latest Delusional Klit call-outs:
I’m not afraid of either Klitschko. I will bring pressure on the inside. That’s something that they’ve never seen.
–Chauncy ‘The Hillyard Hammer’ Welliver
I feel so confident in the ring now. I feel like nobody can hurt me there.
-Helenius
The last one was from none other than the unknown “Hillyard Hammer,” Chauncy Welliver (45-5-5 and an anemic KO percentage of 27.27). This time it’s Robert Helenius (14-0) who proclaims he is ready, but he first must beat Sam Peter.
Who next? Tyson Fury?
4) The Darker Side of Boxing
For years, I have been an outspoken advocate for boxing reform. To this end, I have written any number of articles on the subject. Recently, I started a series. The first one dealt with mismatches between young and brutal fighters on the one hand, and those who have seen their best days (such as Antwun Echols) on the other.
While it might not be necessarily “dark,” one topic I can think of is holding judges more accountable.
Can you name some other subjects or situations that could be included in this series?
5) If Margarito and Cotto rematch…
I don’t think is just me who wants the re-match, but I believe everyone wants to see it.
–Antonio Margarito
I look for the “Tornado “to be simply too strong and relentless or Miguel and if he hurts him, look for a repeat of the last fight where Margo takes control and then stuns, stalks and closes. Perhaps Manny Steward in Cotto’s corner will be able to prepare Cotto to deal with the inevitable pressure from someone who fights every second of every round, but that remains to be seen. The “Ghost of Margarito” may well rule in the end.
How do you feel about this?
6) Boxing Event of the Month: Martinez’s destruction of Sergei Dzinziruk.
Not because he beat the Ukrainian “Razor,” but because of the manner in which he did it. For me, it was the adjustment Maravilla made that was so impressive and being able to out-jab a solid jabber is something rarely seen these days.
7. David Haye vs. Wladimir Klitschko
I am not yet ready to join those who think Haye is in over his head. I’ll wait to break this one down later, but my gut reaction tells me that the style match-up may give Wladimir Klitschko a lot of trouble. More on this later, but anyone who has muscle mass, speed, athleticism, power, and ring savvy presents a threat to anyone out there.
For an interesting boxing tour, visit the author’s website featuring new articles, music, and ever-changing photos galleries at www.tedsares.com. Also, please sign the guest book so I know you dropped by.