Alvarez-Lara: A Classic In The Making?

From time to time something that I am asked by both the hardcore Boxing enthusiast and as well as the casual fan is for my opinion on what makes a legitimate star in the sport.  There is no simple answer to that question as there are many aspects in the development and promotion of a fighter that has to be taken into consideration. If however, someone would ask for my opinion on what I felt would make a rising star into a legitimate live gate and pay-per-view attraction, I could probably answer that question in a more simple way.

Of course, if a fighter has a crowd pleasing style it will obviously generate interest from both fans and experts alike, but that is only one aspect of the equation in my opinion.  In this day and age where more often than not Boxing’s top stars are showcased live on pay-per-view television almost exclusively, one thing that I take into consideration is what can make a fighter into a legitimate star of the sport is their willingness to take on all comers.

In the case of former Jr. Middleweight world champion Saul Alvarez, he has all the ingredients that make a star. An entertaining crowd pleasing style, a significant fan following and a willingness to take risks as he faces the best of the best. Such will be the case when the former world champion faces top Jr. Middleweight contender Erislandy Lara on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Alvarez, who last fought in March of this year scoring an impressive tenth round stoppage of the always “Game” Alfredo Angulo will be fighting for the second time since suffering his lone defeat in September of last year to Floyd Mayweather. Sometimes it is not uncommon to see fighters who suffer their first defeat begin the rebuilding process by taking on opponents who are perhaps not well-known and who are not considered to be dangerous. There are however, times were a fighter who suffers a loss will opt to take on the toughest competition available coming off of that loss.

In the case of Saul Alvarez, it is important to remember that his lone defeat came against a fighter who is widely considered the best pound for pound fighter in the world. Despite losing that fight, Alvarez was able to have his moments and held his own. It did not surprise me to see him take on a dangerous opponent in the form of Alfredo Angulo in his first fight following his loss against Mayweather. Alvarez dominated the fight against Angulo and solidified his status as one of the cornerstones of the Jr. Middleweight division.

Alvarez showing again that he is willing to take on all comers will face another dangerous obstacle when he faces Erislandy Lara. Lara, a slick southpaw boxer/puncher is the kind of fighter who could potentially give Alvarez trouble. Many will remember Lara being on the losing end of a controversial decision against former Welterweight world champion Paul Williams in July 2011, in a fight where many observers, this one included felt he had won convincingly. The loss to Williams is the only loss Lara has suffered thus far in his career. Lara has the ability to be elusive, time his opponents with counter punches, as well as end fights quickly as he did against Ronald Hearns in April 2012.

One could make the argument that Lara’s craft and skill has resulted in him being avoided by some fighters. Lara is after all highly skilled and it is understandable based on his attributes that he may be viewed as a high risk/low reward option for fighters who are considered marquee draws. Lara however, has more than earned his chance to showcase his skills on Boxing’s marquee stage after compiling a professional record of 19-1-2, with 12 Knockouts and earning interim/regular status in the World Boxing Association's (WBA) Jr. Middleweight ratings.

Among his nineteen wins, Lara also holds two victories over recent opponents of Saul Alvarez in scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over Austin Trout last December and surviving two knockdowns to stop the aforementioned Alfredo Angulo in ten rounds in June of last year. Although there might be some who would say that this is a high risk/low reward scenario for Saul Alvarez, fighters who become legitimate stars and more specifically significant pay-per-view draws should take risks to solidify their standing.

Stylistically, this fight is one of those fights where you can see an argument for either fighter winning the fight. Both fighters can box, have the ability to be compact with their offense, are excellent counter punchers, and have the ability to end a fight quickly. It will be interesting to see who takes the initiative from the opening bell. Although one could likely assume a tactical Boxing match early on, I believe that this fight could have a little of everything.

Even though one could make a valid argument for either fighter having the edge heading into this fight, I believe that the ingredients are there for what just might be a classic encounter. The type of encounter that could be a topic of discussion for Boxing fans for years to come. In my view this fight is a risk for both fighters and frankly a toss up as to who will win. 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

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Will Mendez-Barthelemy Rematch Bring Closure To Controversy?

The year 2014 in the sport of Boxing began on January 3rd when IBF Jr. Lightweight world champion Argenis Mendez stepped into the ring to face undefeated number one contender Rances Barthelemy at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Barthelemy’s strength and punching power dictated the action from the opening bell and it appeared as though the champion had no answer for Barthelemy.

Mendez would be dropped twice in the second round, the second of the two knockdowns would cause the fight’s conclusion. Barthelemy knocked Mendez down at the end of the round and the champion was subsequently counted out by Referee Pete Podgorski. What appeared to some as a clear knockout for Rances Barthelemy however, would be overshadowed by controversy.

The controversy that emerged was that the bell to end the second round rang twice, each with a single ding about a second apart. The champion Mendez was not knocked to the canvas until after the bell rang for the second time. This ultimately led to the Minnesota Department Of Labor And Industry to rule the bout a no contest with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) reinstating Mendez as it’s Jr. Lightweight world champion.

Some readers may recall my coverage of this fight back in January when I said it was my hope that the controversy would be resolved as quickly as possible. In a sport where criticisms of those who regulate the sport is all too common, both the commission that oversaw this fight, the Minnesota Department Of Labor And Industry as well as the sanctioning organization, the IBF who’s Jr. Lightweight world title was at stake should both be commended for taking appropriate action in this matter.

This observer however, also stated that the fairest recourse for all involved in my mind would be for the IBF to mandate an immediate rematch between Mendez and Barthelemy. That rematch will take place on July 10th at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.

Normally when there are circumstances that call for an immediate rematch, more often than not the reasoning is likely centered around elements of the scoring of a fight. Obviously, this rematch is different in that some were of the opinion that Barthelemy was on his way to a convincing victory over Mendez regardless of the circumstances of the controversy that emerged.

Barthelemy did control the action when the two men last saw each other in the ring. It would certainly not be hard to see most viewing Barthelemy as a significant favorite as this rematch approaches based on how the first fight was fought. It will be interesting to see whether Barthelemy will be able to control this fight from the outset as he did in the first encounter, or if Mendez will be able to rebound from the knockout.

The winner of this fight will likely face former world title challenger Michael Farenas, who scored an eight round stoppage over previously undefeated Mark Davis last week in an IBF world title elimination bout. Before Farenas can get his shot at the title however, Mendez and Barthelemy will meet to settle unfinished business.

It goes without saying that sometimes in the sport of Boxing what is logical and what can be viewed as a fair solution to a controversy does not always take place. In this case, both Argenis Mendez and Rances Barthelemy have an opportunity to bring an end to a controversy. Will the rematch bring closure to this controversy? We will find out on July 10th.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

 

Terence Crawford’s Star Continues To Rise

One of the appeals of the sport of Boxing is that it is always a sport where both fan and expert alike are on a consistent search for the next big star of the sport. A star that has been on the rise in recent times is that of undefeated WBO Lightweight world champion Terence Crawford. Crawford, compiled a record of 22-0, with 17 Knockouts prior to challenging two-division world champion Ricky Burns in March of this year for Burns’ WBO Lightweight world title.

Crawford, who was seen by some to be an underdog against the more experienced Burns outworked and out boxed the champion in Burns’ home country of Scotland to earn his first world title in a convincing twelve round unanimous decision. What was particularly impressive about Crawford’s performance in that fight was how he consistently beat Burns to the punch with his hand speed and did not allow the champion to get off consistently with his offense.

After what was an impressive performance by Crawford, the newly crowned champion would make the first defense of his world title against former Olympic gold medalist and former Featherweight world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa on June 28th at the Centurylink Center in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. A concern that some might have when a champion prepares to defend a world championship in their hometown is a potential for distractions. Crawford however, was very confident leading up to this fight and was very focused.

Under circumstances where some fighters have not performed well defending world championships in their hometown, Crawford would not only defend his title, but would do so against a fighter in Yuriorkis Gamboa who is highly skilled and has been considered one of the best fighters in the world. Quite frankly, Gamboa, who walked into this fight with identical record to that of the champion of 23-0, with 16 Knockouts should have been viewed as a dangerous option for a champion making his first title defense.

The fight between Crawford and Gamboa would have a little bit of everything. Tactical Boxing, both fighters having periods of effectiveness, and both fighters showing their mettle. An old adage that Boxing fans will hear from time to time is that a good big man will always beat a good little man. In this fight Crawford was the naturally bigger man who had a near three-inch height advantage over the challenger. Gamboa however, did not look as though Crawford’s physical advantages would have an effect on him early in the fight.

The fight began at a tactical pace. Although both fighters were able to be effective early on, it seemed that it was Gamboa who was dictating how the fight was being fought. The challenger consistently get his punches off first with short crisp combinations and won the early rounds in my opinion.

This presented an interesting situation for the champion, who much like Gamboa, is known for his quick hands and ability to time his opponents. It was very competitive between the two early on, but it seemed that Gamboa’s combinations and counter punching gave the challenger a slight edge.

The momentum of the fight gradually shifted toward the champion, who began to impose his will on Gamboa as the rounds went on. A flush counter right hook from Crawford sent Gamboa to the canvas in the final minute of the fifth round. Gamboa showed his heart by getting up from the knockdown and choosing to attempt to return offense instead of being on the defensive. Although no one can take away from Gamboa’s courage, I felt that it would have been in his best interest to be somewhat defensive and give himself some time to recover.

Despite being knocked down and badly staggered in the final seconds of round five, Gamboa was able to survive the round. At this point the fight went from a tactical Boxing match to more of a fire fight with both fighters coming forward in looking to engage. It was Crawford’s ability however, to mix up his attack to the body and head of Gamboa as well as his ability to switch between the southpaw and orthodox stances that turned this fight in his favor.

At this stage of the fight Crawford’s natural size and strength advantage, as well as his precision counter punches became the focal point. Although very “Game” in his willingness to come forward and engage the champion after being knocked down and badly hurt in the fifth round, Gamboa was not able to get his punches off first as he was able to do in the early rounds. Gamboa’s punches also did not seem to have much sting to them after the knockdown. The champion would continue to impose his will on the challenger as the rounds went on.

Gamboa would be caught by a counter combination by Crawford as he pressed forward on the attack knocking the former Featherweight world champion down for the second time in round eight. Despite going down for the second time, Gamboa continued to press forward and briefly staggered the champion in round nine. The champion however, would respond by dropping Gamboa for the third time later in the round with a left hook. A right uppercut by the champion would close the show seconds later as it dropped Gamboa for the fourth time, causing Referee Genaro Rodriguez to stop the fight at 2:53 of round nine.

Although some may say that it was this fight that made Terence Crawford Boxing’s newest star, I believe this was a fight where his star continued to rise after defeating Ricky Burns earlier this year. Crawford, now 24-0, with 17 knockouts does have some interesting options that could be available to him coming off his first title defense.

Contenders such as Ray Beltran, Hank Lundy, Darley Perez, and former world champions Juan Diaz and Jorge Linares all pose an interesting challenge to Crawford. There is also of course the possibility of potential unification bouts with the likes of WBA champion Richard Abril, WBC champion Omar Figueroa, and IBF champion Miguel Vazquez that should also be viewed as potential options. Which option Crawford decides to take is only a question that he can answer, but I do believe the possibility exists that Crawford will make a mandatory defense of his WBO world title before any potential unification bout with any of the three other champions in the division takes place. In terms of a mandatory challenger Ray Beltran is currently ranked number one in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) ratings. We will have to wait and see what the future holds for Crawford.

Although suffering the first defeat of his professional career, Yuriorkis Gamboa has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. He fought his heart out and proved he is a warrior and should hold his head high. No matter what Gamboa does next, I believe that he will continue to be a player in any weight class that he chooses to compete. It should not be overlooked that Gamboa was able to dictate the early rounds of this fight and even after the momentum clearly shifted toward Crawford, continued to press forward looking to turn the fight back around in his favor. An argument could be made that the loss for Gamboa may have done more for him in the long-term than a victory would have. Yuriorkis Gamboa is still a highly skilled and dangerous fighter who will give anyone in the Lightweight division or neighboring weight classes all they can handle.

As Terence Crawford’s star continues to rise, one thing that could very well rise up along with it is a popular destination for the sport of Boxing. The Crawford-Gamboa world Lightweight championship fight was the first world title fight to take place in Omaha, Nebraska since 1972 when the late great Joe Frazier scored a fifth round stoppage of contender Ron Stander to retain the Heavyweight championship of the world.

It goes without saying that many of the sport’s more prominent fights over the years have been staged in major cities such as Las Vegas. After forty-two years a world championship fight returned to Omaha drawing nearly 11,000 spectators. A scenario that could present itself for Crawford is one that is not all that unlike that of former world champion Tony Lopez who fought many of his fights in his hometown of Sacramento, California and not unlike former Heavyweight contender Joe Mesi, who fought many fights in his hometown of Buffalo, New York.

Each of these boxers established a fan base and in the process generated significant attention for each respective city.  Whether or not Terence Crawford will continue to defend his world title in his hometown is anyone’s guess, but why not?

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Showtime’s Boxing Showcase Provides Another Memorable Night At The StubHub Center

Over the last decade one of the most popular Boxing venues has been the StubHub Center (Formally the Home Depot Center) in Carson, California. A venue that has played host to several of the sport’s memorable battles in recent years including two of the epic series of fights between Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez, Timothy Bradley vs. Ruslan Provodnikov, and Marcos Maidana vs. Josesito Lopez just to name a few. The StubHub Center has certainly earned it’s place as a big time Boxing venue.

On June 21st the Boxing world again focused it’s attention on the StubHub center for a card that featured two storylines, three former world champions beginning their road back into contention and two former top amateur standouts meeting for a vacant world championship.  The card televised by Showtime and it’s sister channel Showtime Extreme had a good balance of intrigue and the element of the unknown.

In addition to four fights centered around those two storylines the night’s action began with a Heavyweight bout. Undefeated American prospect Dominic Breazeale would face veteran Darvin Vargas.

 

Breazeale, who entered his fight against Davin Vargas unbeaten in ten professional fights with nine of those wins coming by knockout could eventually see himself as a contender down the road.  On this night Breazale would be given a test by a “Game “ Vargas who was more than willing to stand and engage with Breazeale. Despite his willingness to engage with Breazeale and landing more punches than any of Breazeale’s previous opponents, Vargas was unable to nullify Breazeale’s offense suffering a knockdown in the second round from a right hand before the fight was stopped by Referee Thomas Taylor in round three. Official time of the stoppage was 2:26 of round three.  

This should be looked at as another step in the development of Breazeale. An impressive performance against a fighter in Vargas who did provide somewhat of a test. A question that will be asked of Breazeale and those who handle his career as he progresses will be how soon will he be put in against a battle tested veteran.  It can be an interesting conundrum for those who handle a fighter to determine when he should move up in competition. It will be interesting to see where Breazeale goes from here as he looks to advance up the Heavyweight ranks. 

 

The first former world champion to compete on this card would be former three-time Light-Heavyweight world champion Chad Dawson. Dawson, who was fighting for the first time since suffering back to back knockout losses to Andre Ward and Adonis Stevenson faced veteran George Blades in a Cruiserweight fight.  As I said in previewing this card the questions that Chad Dawson would have to answer would be what effect did those two knockout losses have on him and whether there would be any ring rust after being out of the ring for one year.

Those questions however, would not really have much of an opportunity to be answered as Dawson made short work of Blades dropping him with a left hook to the body and then knocking Blades down again for the count with a right hand to head. Official time was 2:35 of the first round.

Although George Blades was unable to provide much resistance for Dawson in Dawson’s return to the ring, the win for Dawson was probably something that restored his confidence after suffering those two setbacks to Ward and Stevenson. It will be interesting to see if Dawson chooses to remain as a Cruiserweight going forward or if he will opt to return to the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division. 

The first of two Welterweight fights on this card would then take center stage as former two-division world champion Devon Alexander squared off against former NABF and WBC Continental Americas Welterweight champion Jesus Sotto Karass. The key to this fight in my eyes was whether or not Alexander would be able to avoid Soto Karass by out boxing him for the entire fight or whether Soto Karass’ pressuring style would force Alexander into a brawl.

 

The story of this fight was Alexander’s ability to use his lateral movement to keep Soto Karass from being able to get into a consistent offensive rhythm. Despite being pressured by Soto Karass from the outset, Alexander’s movement and quick hands dictated the fight.  Although Soto Karass was able to have success gradually as the fight progressed, he was unable to really limit Alexander’s movement in my view and Alexander’s ability to get his punches off was the difference in a fight that Alexander would win a ten round unanimous decision.  I unofficially scored the fight 97-93 for Alexander.

Even though I felt Alexander quicker hands and movement allowed him to box his way to victory, it was an entertaining contest to watch where both fighters were willing to engage. Despite losing the fight Jesus Soto Karass as always showed his toughness and should still be considered a dangerous opponent for anyone in the Welterweight division. 

The world championship fight on this card, a bout for the vacant WBO Featherweight world championship was a fight where quite frankly I did not know what to expect. It is true that Boxing is a sport where one should always expect the unexpected. In regard to this fight however, an argument could easily be made for either fighter having an edge over the other.

Would it be the greater professional experience of the number one contender Gary Russell Jr. who entered the fight undefeated in twenty-four professional fights or the skill and amateur pedigree of two-time, two-division Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko who, despite competing in only his third professional fight is considered as perhaps the greatest amateur in the history of the sport with an incredible record of 396-1, and who was already making his second attempt at a world championship.

Although some may have had the opinion prior to this fight that neither Russell or Lomachenko had really established themselves professionally to get an opportunity to fight for a world title, it was nevertheless an interesting fight. Despite having quick hands, Russell was not able to dictate the pace of this fight, but Lomachenko’s pressure that set the pace that this fight was fought.

Even though Russell was throwing more in volume, Lomachenko’s ability to slip much of his opponent’s offense and execute his own offense by catching Russell in exchanges was the difference in this fight. There were rounds however, during the course of this fight that were difficult to score because although Lomachenko was the more effective fighter in my opinion based on his solid defense and landing the cleaner offense to both the body and head, Russell was the more active of the two in terms of punches thrown, which I felt made some of the early rounds close. It was clear as the fight progressed however, that Lomachenko was in control of the fight and that is what led to him winning this fight clearly in my eyes at the end of the twelve round championship bout. Unofficially, I scored this fight 117-111 or nine rounds to three for Lomachenko.

Despite what appeared to be a clear win for Lomachenko, there was a mild controversy with regard to the official scorecards. Judge Lisa Giampa scored this fight a draw 114-114, this was overruled by judges Pat Russell and Max DeLuca who scored the fight 116-112 or eight rounds to four for Lomachenko giving him the victory by majority decision.

Although I do not feel that this fight was a draw, Russell’s activity may have been enough to win some rounds that were close. As I have often said over the years when it comes to scoring fights it can simply boil down to what a judge prefers in their own criteria in how they score based on clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship, and defense. Even though I felt that Vasyl Lomachenko won this fight by doing all of the above, there are those who may have a different opinion based on Russell’s ability to throw in volume even though he was not able to land consistently. A mild controversy regarding the decision, but not a controversy that should be the main story of this fight.

With the win Vasyl Lomachenko has tied the all-time record of winning a world title in only his third professional fight, which was set by Saensak Muangsurin of Thailand who set the record in July 1975 knocking out Perico Fernandez to win the WBC Jr. Welterweight world championship. Although some may have criticized Lomachenko getting two world title shots so early in his career, it is not unprecedented. After winning a world title, Muangsurin went on to become a two-time holder of the WBC Jr. Welterweight world championship after briefly losing the title in 1976 to Miguel Velazquez, and defeating Velazquez in the rematch.

Whether or not Lomachenko will have a long reign as a Featherweight world champion remains to be seen. This observer however, looks forward to what may be next for the new champion. As for Gary Russell Jr. he was not disgraced in this fight and this should be looked at as a fight where he was simply bested by a fighter who on that night was the better. As it will be interesting to see what is next for Lomachenko, The same could be said for Gary Russell Jr. as he looks to bounce back from his first defeat as a professional.

The night’s action would culminate in a twelve round Welterweight fight between former two-division world champion Robert Guerrero and Japanese contender Yoshihiro Kamegai. In previewing this card last week, I stated that this was the fight that could be the fight of the night based on the exciting styles of both Guerrero and Kamegai and their ability to box as well as their willingness to go toe to toe with their opponents. Guerrero and Kamegai would not disappoint anyone on this night.

From the opening bell Guerrero and Kamegai were willing to engage in a fight that saw plenty of back and forth action. It was Guerrero’s combination punching and ability to dictate how the fight was being fought that I felt was the story of the fight. Kamegai however, was very “Game”, very aggressive and continued to press forward. The battle between Guerrero and Kamegai will likely be considered a fight of the year candidate. In short, the fight was a grueling give and take battle where both fighters were able to have their moments. Guerrero’s ability to land punches in combination and generally get his punches off first was the difference in this fight and that allowed him to earn a hard-fought twelve round unanimous decision. Unofficially, I scored this fight 116-112 in favor of Robert Guerrero. The fight was the first for Guerrero since losing to Floyd Mayweather last year. This victory will likely put Guerrero back in world title contention.

 Despite suffering the second loss of his career in twenty-seven professional fights, Yoshihiro Kamegai has established himself as a fighter who should be viewed by anyone in the Welterweight division as dangerous and not someone to take lightly. It will be interesting to see where Kamegai who was rated number seven in the world by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) coming into his fight with Robert Guerrero will find himself in the mix of what is one of the most competitive divisions in the entire sport.

Readers will recall that I stated in previewing this card that the winner of the Alexander-Soto Karass fight could face the winner of Guerrero-Kamegai. A fight between Robert Guerrero and Devon Alexander would certainly be an interesting fight and I can certainly see a fight between the two being made. There are likely however, other options that could be available to either Guerrero or Alexander and I think it will boil down to what happens at the top of the Welterweight division as contenders such as former WBA champion Marcos Maidana, former Jr. Welterweight world champion Amir Khan, and undefeated top contender Keith Thurman all could be potential future opponents for unified WBC/WBA champion Floyd Mayweather. Although an argument could be made that Maidana will be the most likely opponent for Mayweather in a rematch of their battle last month, realistically anything can happen in the Welterweight division and it will likely all depend on who Mayweather fights next that will determine what will likely happen for those fighters. All of them are potential opponents.

All in all, the latest card to take place at the StubHub Center in Carson, California produced a little bit of everything. Former world champions beginning the road back into contention, highly competitive Boxing matches, a new world champion, a rising Heavyweight prospect, a couple of knockouts, and a fight of the year candidate. A card that will likely go down as another in a growing list of memorable nights of Boxing for one of the sport’s more popular venues.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison