King David Reigns Supreme; Frank Decisions Disinterested Darden in Yonkers!
By Matt Yanofksy (Ringside)
New York State Heavyweight champion Darrel “King David” Madison is willing to fight anyone at any time, but has repeatedly been rebuffed. As a southpaw with good boxing ability and a strong amateur record, matchmakers have been heartbreakers, as Madison’s aspirations to fight the best is yet to come. After last night’s impressive performance at the Yonkers PAL Gym, it’s perfectly understandable why Madison has been turned down time and time again as an opponent.
Madison of Central Islip, improved to 15-1 (4 KO’s) after battering Providence, RI based gatekeeper Robert Wiggins over two one sided rounds. With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, Madison entered the ring in multi-colored checkered trunks and a brand new game plan. Madison previously boxed his way to skillful decision victories, which weren’t always entertaining, but the Irish style trunks seemingly turned him into a new fighter.
Madison came out unusually aggressive in the opening round, tagging Wiggins with a number of right hooks and body shots to take the first three minutes of the fight with ease. The former amateur standout went back to work in the second, buzzing Wiggins on a number of occasions with a heavy onslaught of punches. Madison was ready for more, with a group of his fans cheering him at ringside, but Wiggins wasn’t. The latter surprisingly remained on his stool after the second round and was met by a chorus of boos for doing so.
“I have been in the gym with him before and am surprised he quit”, Madison said after the fight. “Now I want a fight with (unbeaten Harlem based) Tor Hamer. He has a big mouth so let’s see if he can back it up!”
Wiggins falls to 20-8-1 (12 KO’s) with the defeat.
The co-feature pitted a counter puncher against an opponent who simply didn’t punch. O’Shea Brothers Boxing newly signed light heavyweight prospect Ronson “Perfectly” Frank scored an eight round shut out decision over Raynard Darden of Detroit, MI. Frank took his time in the early going, waiting for opportunities to counter, but Darden didn’t give him the chance simply because he didn’t move his hands.
Frank stepped up his punch output beginning in the third round, using a nice southpaw jab, body blows and right hooks. Darden was decked hard in the fourth with a nice check hook, but the hardcore veteran did a good job of surviving throughout the contest. Scores were 80-71 on all three cards.
Brooklyn’s Frank improves to 14-0 (7 KO’s), while Darden, who had longtime friend and Dibella Entertainment matchmaker Joe Quiambo assassinating in his corner, falls to 11-22-1 (4 KO’s).
In the fight of the night, local featherweight Nydia Feliciano and Jennifer Han battled to an entertaining six round draw. Han, who entered the ring with a deceptive 0-1 record, had good ring generalship and worked behind a peppering jab. The hard charging Feliciano, who has a Juan Diaz type style, pressured Han, and found success with combinations in close quarters. Neither fighter cared much about avoiding punches, thus many clean shots landed in one of the most entertaining woman’s fights in recent memory. Scores were 59-55 Han, 58-56 Feliciano and 57-57, forcing the draw.
The Bronx based Feliciano remains unbeaten at 2-0-2. Han returns to El Paso, TX with a 0-1-1 record. 15Rounds scored the closely contested bout 58-56 for Han. On an interesting note, one of Feliciano’s cornermen shouted instructions while talking on his cell phone during the fourth and fifth rounds. Perhaps he was telling one of his confidants about the entertaining bout just inches away?
Crowd favorite Lambros “Linheart” Karaolides, 6-0 (4 KO’s) pounded out a one-sided six round decision over Medford, NY’s Ashantie Hendrickson in a junior middleweight contest. Karaolides, an Astoria based Cypriot outpunched his game opponent from bell to bell. Scores were 60-54 and 59-55 twice. Hendrickson falls to 1-6.
If boxing was UFC, Brooklyn light heavyweight Ariel Espinal would have received a nice bonus on his check for knockout of the evening. Espinal, a true fighter at heart, stepped into the squared circle on 24 hours notice with unbeaten Hajro Sujak. Espinal was less than two weeks removed from his last bout, a fourth round TKO over Anthony Pietrantonio, in Atlantic City and wasn’t in the best of shape. Like the majority of out of shape fighters, Espinal was looking to end the fight early. Success!
Espinal scored a jaw dropping second round KO over Sujak with a monstrous overhand right. Sujak crashed to the canvas and the referee Ricky Gonzalez took more time than necessary to direct Espinal to the neutral corner ala Lucian Bute-Librado Andrade. It made little difference. Gonzalez eventually began to count and Sujak bravely stood up, but only to fall a split second later. Time of stoppage was 2:59.
Espinal improves to 8-13-3 (4 KO’s), while The Bronx’ Sujak drops to 5-1 (2 KO’s).
Good looking bantamweight prospect Raul Lopez of The Bronx forced Puerto Rico’s Reinaldo Cintron to quit on his stool following the opening round. Lopez and Cintron mixed it up early, but the latter got dropped by a hard left hook to the body about 2:30 in. Lopez gunned for a knockout, throwing a terrific body combination, but his badly hurt opponent managed to get out of the round on his feet. Cintron’s corner threw in the towel shortly after the round ended, as their fighter had enough.
Lopez, who received praise as a sparring partner for world champion Carlos Tamara, ups his record to 3-0-1 (3 KO’s). Cintron heads home with a 1-2 professional ledger.
In the opening bout of the evening, former New York Golden Gloves champion Chazz McDowell shut out iron chinned Mexican Filberto Nieto over four rounds at junior lightweight. McDowell hit the defensively inept Nieto with everything he had, but Nieto had no quit in him. McDowell, of Yonkers, improves to 2-0 (1 KO). Nieto falls to 1-6.
The “St. Patty’s Day Brawl” was promoted by O’Shea Brothers Promotions, who have put together a string of scintillating club shows in recent months. Their next card is slated for April 2 at the Masonic Temple in Brooklyn.
15rounds.com Pacquiao – Clottey staff picks
Marc Abrams
We always see something new from Pacquiao. Being that Clottey has a strong and is a very good fighter. he will competitive early until he gets stopped with a body shot in round eleven.
Norm Frauenheim
Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. It’s hard not to agree with Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach. After all, Roach is on a roll. He predicted Pacqjuiao would stop Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao delivered. He predicted Pacquiao would knock out Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao delivered. Now, he is predicting Pacquiao will be the first fighter to stop Clottey. Sorry, not this time. Durability won’t win this fight for Clottey, whose hard head might be dangerous if it collides with Pacquiao in a bloody butt. But durability will keep Clottey around after the final bell and in the middle of the ring to hear how the judges’ scored 12 rounds.
Natashia Aiello
Paquiao by body shot KO in the 6th
Adam Berlin
Joshua Clottey is the bigger man. He has a strong chin, a super-tight defense and while he’s not a one-punch KO artist, his punches do damage. But Manny Pacquiao is too quick and too smart to be daunted. And with Freddie Roach in Pacquiao’s corner, Joshua Clottey will be fighting two men, not one. (I still don’t understand how Clottey’s team didn’t hire a veteran trainer to help their charge between rounds; it’s unconscionable. Joshua Clottey will be all alone in the Lone Star state.) Clottey will prove PacMan’s toughest test, but in the end Clottey won’t be busy enough and Manny will win by decision.
Rick McKenzie
As good and as dominant as PacMan has been as of late, I still have doubt in my mind that he can continue at this torrid pace of making mince meat out of men. Clottey is truly bigger and will come in the ring 20 pounds heavier…I got Clottey By KO/TKO in the 10th.
George Phillips
I am going to go against the norm and state the Clotty will be the man to dethrone the king, well maybe. Manny is the best pound for pound right now and we all know what he can bring to the ring. He has a trainer in Freddie Roach that can devise a battle plan that would make General Lee jealous. On the flip side of the coin, this is a true welterweight fight and unlike previous fights for PacMan there is no catch weight. Clotty was fighting at 147lbs when Manny was a flyweight. Plus, Clotty will probably be walking into the ring at 160lbs after re-hydration. Clotty will bring a armored tank defense that could frustrate the champion. For Clotty to take advantage of this, he will have to up his punch count and will have to take advantage of Manny’s attack style of boxing to land effective counter punches. Should Clotty not capitalize on his defense then Manny will wear him down after 8 or 9 rounds.
Clotty has never been stopped and I do not see that streak ending. Will Clotty do enough to pull off a decision? Perhaps. A draw could be in the making as well. Look for a great fight well worth the PPV cost.
Anson Wainwright
Over the past few years when Pacquiao fights there seem to be several possible outcomes and Pacquiao has some how managed to do what hardly anybody though he could do. Beat up Oscar, annilate Ricky Hatton and stand toe to toe with Cotto scoring stoppages in each one. While Clottey is a tough skilled guy who has a solid chin, impressive defence it all points to Pacquiao using his speed and picking Clottey off to score a points win but that’s conventional wisdom. I’m looking for Pacquiao to do what very few think he can do and that’s stop Clottey. Pacquiao in the tenth.
Mario Ortega Jr.
Pacquiao UD12 Clottey
Joshua Clottey is a good welterweight, but Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter. Pacquiao will be too quick handed for Clottey to open up out of his shell, and Pacman will win a wide decision. Clottey is too sturdy, and leaves too few openings for Pacquiao to score his fifth consecutive stoppage.
Johnny Schulz
So do I dare pick against pick against Pacquiao? I truly believe that Clottey has much more to offer as a challenge than his past 3 fights. I also know that he has a better chin than his last two for sure. Does the Pacman train continue its steamrolling ways? I believe this is where he gets stopped in his tracks. Not sure when or how, but I smell an upset. Pacman has everything to loose and Clottey everything to gain. All in all great fight. I could totally be off base here but, I dare to go there. -JSizzle
Alejandro Echevarria
Come Saturday night Joshua Clottey will once again step in the ring with the elite of the sport. In Manny Pacquiao, Clottey will be facing one of his most formidable opponents to date and if he wants to be considered one of the elite, he must win. No matter how close he makes this fight, Clottey must win in order to leave behind the stigma of always coming up short on his most important fights.
Only constant and effective pressure from Clottey forcing Pac-man to fight going back will give him the opportunity. If he can’t accomplish this for most of the fight, Pacquiao will dominate with his speed, volume of punches and multiple angles. In the end, the man from the Philippines will outhustle and outwork his opponent to earn a unanimous decision.
Matt Yanofsky
Pacquiao by decision. Pacquiao is far too fast and busy for the
offensively passive Clottey. The latter’s defense and physical strength
should be proficient enough to guide him to the final bell however.
MANNY PACQUIAO MAKES HIS U.S. NETWORK TV MORNING SHOW DEBUT ON ABC’S GOOD MORNING AMERICA!MANNY PACQUIAO MAKES HIS U.S. NETWORK TV MORNING SHOW DEBUT ON ABC’S GOOD MORNING AMERICA!
ARLINGTON, TEXAS (March 13, 2010) – Fighter of the Decade, Congressional candidate and boxing’s No. 1 pound for pound has graced the cover of TIME magazine, appeared twice on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and today, was featured on Good Morning America Weekend, marking the U.S. network TV morning show debut of boxing’s only seven-division world champion.
The following link will take you to the GMA feature on Manny:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/lord-boxing-ring-manny-pacquiao-10091875
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Promoted by Top Rank, in association with the Tecate and MP Promotions, THE EVENT: PACQUIAO vs. CLOTTEY will take place Tonight! Saturday, March 13, in Cowboys Stadium, The $1.2 billion stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), boxing’s only seven-division world champion, of General Santos City, Philippines, will be defending the World Boxing Organization welterweight title against Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs), of Accra, Ghana. THE EVENT will be produced and distributed Live on HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Remaining Tickets to Pacquiao vs. Clottey, priced at $700, $500, $300, $200, $100, and $50, can be purchased in-person at the Cowboys Stadium box office in Arlington, or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.
FOLLOW PACQUIAO – CLOTTEY ROUND BY ROUND AS IT HAPPENS
Follow all the action from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas as Many Pacquiao defends the WBO Welterweight title against for IBF Champion Joshua Clottey. The action begins at 9pm eastern/6pm pacific/9 am Sunday in Manila and 2 am in Accra, Ghana. The action kicks off with a three fight undercard featuring John Duddy, Jose Luis Castillo- Alfonso Gomez; Humberto Soto – David Diaz
12 Rounds–WBO Welterweight championship–Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO’s) vs Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO’s)
12 Rounds – WBC Lightweight Championship–Humberto Soto (50-7-2, 32 KO’s) vs David Diaz (35-2-1, 17 KO’s)
10 Rounds Welterweights–Alfonso Gomez (21-4-2, 10 KO’s) vs Jose Luis Castillo (60-9-1, 52 KO’s)
10 Rounds Middleweights–John Duddy (28-1, 18 KO’s) vs Michael Medina (23-1-2, 18 KO’s)
Grano Wins Ugly Rematch With Brown—FIGHT CARD ON DEMAN ON GFL
By Joseph Davey (Ringside)
The first fight between Tony Grano and Mark Brown back in 2008 reminded me that heavyweight fights can be entertaining. It featured big punches, multiple knockdowns and a thrilling come from behind conclusion. It was in short, everything right about heavyweight boxing. The rematch between Grano and Brown, sadly, featured everything that is wrong with heavyweight boxing: Clinching, inactivity and the lack of drama that seems to permeate every fight over 200 pounds.
Instead of letting it all hang out as he did in the first fight, Brown came into the fight thinking he was Muhammad Ali circa 1974. From the first bell he covered up and invited Grano to come in and wear himself out, hoping that Grano would punch himself into exhaustion and an easy KO. Problem was, Grano wasn’t having any of it. No amount of posturing and chest beating would get Grano to lay down more than the occasional flurry. Grano was content to stay on the outside and use the jab, piling up points and ensuring that he avenge the loss to Brown nearly two years prior. Ironically when Grano did come in to open up, Brown would bear hug and attempt to toss Grano around the ring. As the rounds progressed, Grano began to retaliate and the grappling and wrestling began in earnest. Referee Joey Lupino spent at least 20 seconds of each round admonishing both fighters for their unsportsmanlike tactics. Though Grano was winning rounds, he wasn’t making it look pretty.
His best moment came in the 7th when he managed to get Brown to the ropes and give himself enough space to tee off with rights and lefts to Browns chin. Brown was shaken but not so much as he couldn’t simply resort to clinching again. The sole moment of drama came in the 10th as Brown finally put forth an effort to punch, unleashing a full power overhand right that landed as Grano was moving back. Grano fell sideways into the ropes in dramatic fashion but the second he rose it was clear he was more off balance than hurt. Oddly, Brown didn’t even try to jump on Grano and did more posturing than punching over the final 2 minutes. The scores were no surprise: 98-91 and 97-92 (twice) all in favor of Grano. As bad as the fight was, it was a good win for Grano who at 17-1-1 13KOs can now start thinking of taking on someone ranked in the top ten. For Brown his 41 years of age and 15-3 7KOs record would, in any other division, warrant retirement. But in the heavyweight division, it’s still possible Brown can land himself a significant fight in the near future.
Former super bantamweight prospect Mike Oliver climbed one step closer toward once again being a player in the division by dispatching former minimumweight titlist Kermin Guardia in 3 rounds. Oliver kept Guardia at bay for much of the first 2 rounds with a fast jab and the occasional straight left hand. Midway through the second Oliver began to mix in right hooks which the complacent Guardia seemed unwilling or unable to avoid. In the third, a right hook caught Guardia moving backwards and deposited him on the canvas where referee Johnny Callas reached the count of 10. The knockout was Oliver’s first since 2006 and a good way to get him back into the divisional mix. With the win, he’s now 23-2 8KOs. Guardia falls to 37-12 21KOs.
Local up and coming middleweight David Bauza was given all he could handle from Erix Quintros in a close and entertaining 4 round scrap. Bauza was bombs away from the beginning and rocked Quintros with left and right hooks as he regularly switched between the southpaw and orthodox stance. For the first two rounds Quintros had little to offer in return but in the third, he began to fight back and put together combinations that drove Bauza to the ropes. Quintros had Bauza in some trouble near the end of the third as he landed a 4 punch combo that caused Bauza to clinch simply to keep his balance. At the end of the fourth one of the judges scored the fight even at 38-38 but was overruled by the other two who favored Bauza by scores of 39-37 and 40-36. Bauza remains unbeaten at 4-0 3KOs while Quintros drops his second fight in a row and slips to 2-5 1KO.
2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali may not have frightening power but what he lacks in power he makes up for in speed. Welterweight Jose Duran got a taste of that speed for two and a half rounds before finally succumbing to it. The bout was all Ali from the start as he flashed combinations from different angles, peppering Duran with shots to the body and head. Duran was simply too slow to mount any offense and the rare punches he landed had little effect on Ali. Midway through the third Ali shot a blindingly fast left hook to the head of Duran which sent him crashing to the canvas. Duran (now 6-5-2 3KOs) struggled but was unable to beat the count of 10 giving Ali (now 6-0 3KOs) the knockout victory.
In the most entertaining bout of the night, super middleweights Manuel Lopes and Greg McCoy fought to a highly competitive majority draw over 4 rounds. The bout seemed like it would be one-sided at the onset as Lopes used the ring well and pot-shotted the onrushing and wild McCoy to good effect. The first two rounds were all Lopes who began to get increasingly bold as the minutes ticked away. He began dropping his hands and trying to trade with McCoy which almost proved to be his undoing. McCoy took full advantage of Lopes bravado and dished out a number of overhand rights that began to fall with regularity onto the chin of McCoy. By the fourth, McCoy had the confidence he needed to rush Lopes and launch a determined assault. McCoy backed Lopes into his own corner and uncorked yet another overhand right, this time stunning Lopes badly. McCoy tried to follow up and finish the fight but Lopes clung on till the bell and narrowly escaped defeat. Scores were 38-38 (twice) and 39-37 Lopes. McCoy, who has yet to win as a pro, now stands at 0-1-1 while Lopes clings to his unbeaten record of 5-0-2 1KO.
A mere 43 seconds was all light heavyweight Joe Smith Jr. needed to take the fight out of Carlos Adams. Smith dropped Adams with nearly the first left hook he threw and when Adams rose, Smith put an end to the fight with a single right hand. Referee Johnny Callas stopped his count at 7 when it was clear Adams wanted no part of the fight. Smith seems to have potential and will be an up an comer to look for in the future. He improves his record to 3-0 with 3KOs while Adams drops to 2-8.
The opening bout of the evening was a scheduled 4 rounder between junior welterweights Joey Ortega (2-17 1KO) and Edwin Soto (3-0 2KOs.) The fight was a mismatch from the beginning as Soto got right to work battering Ortega with 3, 4 and 5 punch combinations. The beating opened a cut on Ortega’s nose midway through the first and Ortega simply had no answer for the blows Soto rained down. Midway through the second Soto threw a right hand that caught Ortega flush and stunned him. The follow up barrage of 10+ unanswered punches prompted referee Dick Flaherty to call a halt to the bout. The stoppage was a bit premature but merciful to say the least. Time was 2:31 of round 2.
Spadafora Wins by TKO8 while the Vikings ship sinks at the War Memorial in Fort Lauderdale!
By Johnny Schulz (Ringsde)
A heavy Pittsburgh contingency watched as undefeated welterweight and former IBF lightweight champion Paul “The Pittsburgh Kid” Spadafora 44-0-1(18KO) brought a throw back style and look to the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale while picking up a TKO8 win over Italian Ivan Fiorletta 24-6-2. The southpaw Spadafora controlled the entire fight with slick boxing excellent footwork, and brutal body shots. Spadafora had to fight through plenty off rough housing from Fiorletta throughout the fight, referee Frank Gentile had his hands full all night until he waived his arms in the 8th round. Fiorletta took a point in round six for throwing a couple knees to Spadaforas’ head, while throwing elbows and holding excessively throughout the fight. Spadafora looked much improved as the fight wore on gaining speed and accuracy. He often landed sharp three punch combinations mostly ending with a right body hook that connected almost always. The undefeated Spadafora ran off track and had a 32 month layoff and becoming incarcerated due to a string of drug, alcohol and weapon charges.
Local heavyweight and fan favorite Eric “The Viking” Leander 9-1(8KO) was violently knocked out by fomer amatuer standout Jason Barnett 12-10(6KO) in the Co-Main event of the night in front of a huge Viking crowd donned in horns cheering on their fighter. The first round started with Barnett catching the Viking with an array of jabs and setting up a booming right hand that sent the Viking to the canvas. The round ended with Barnett peppering the Viking with a four punch, right left combination that sent Leander to the canvas and was barely saved by the bell and staggered to his corner. The next round started with an exhausted Leander just able to muster a pawing jab and getting beat to the punch. A hard right hand into a solid left hook dropped Leander at :41 seconds in the second round giving Leander his first loss of his career. Leander brings no amateur experience and a very dangerous brawl and maul style that failed versus a skilled boxer, as the smaller Barnett proved tonight.
In the third fight of the night Willie Herring 12-6-3 pulled off another big upset with a second round KO over Dieuly “The Untamed Beast” Aristilde 7-2, who was coming off of the biggest win of his career, a KO over Elijah McCall just a few weeks ago in a war. Herring started the fight before the opening bell with some mental warfare playing to the crowd and mocking Aristilde. Which had its payday as Aristilde left his game plan of boxing and setting up punches in the corner. Instead he chose to engage in a power right hand contest. The Untamed Beast was knocked down in the first round and in the second with a great left hook that downed the Haitian fighter for good at 1:55. This was a tough loss for the proud Haitian, and a questionable one in regards to why his team would rush him into the ring just weeks after a war.
Rances Barthelemy 4-0 (3) defeated Robert Guillen 5-6-3 (1).Barthelemy and dominated the action in a four round jr lightweight fight. Both men traded some good body shots but Barthelemy was the clear winner of most of the exchanges. The cards read 39-36 40-35 40-35.
Light heavyweight Abdulah Dobey 4-0 (4) earned a big KO3 win over Gevonte Davis 4-6-1 (2). Dobey came out swinging hard to the opening bell and knocked Davis down in the 2nd with a stiff body shot and in the third with stiff right hands, doubled them up, staggering and dropping Davis to the canvas at 1:53 for the final count.
Yoelvis Gamboa improved to 4-0(2KO) with an excellent left hook KO over Milton Ramos 2-2-2. Gamboa showed improvement since his debut, however still very raw. Gamboa the younger brother of world featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamoa 17-0, slipped a big right hand and landed a crushing left hook that ended the bout at 1:42 of the third round.
Cruiserweights Sullivan Berrera 3-0(3KO) and Reggie Pena 6-3(1KO) rumbled in round one and exchanged wild shots on the way to an exciting first round. Pena got deducted one point for holding round 2. The fight ended with a perfectly placed left hook by Berrera on the chin of Pena dropping him to the canvas in a violent manner. The end came at 1:45 in the second round.
So, the Pittsburgh Kid is back, the Viking got mauled, the Beast tamed, and some great looking prospects showed their stuff in an exciting card in Fort Lauderdale tonight.
Notable fighters in attendance were Allan Jackson, Jameel McLine, Joel Julio, John David Jackson, Yorkis Gamboa and Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker…JSizzle and NYDanny Stasiukiewicz reporting ringside.
Mepranum and Marquez cap a stellar prelude at the Gaylord Texan
By Bart Barry (Ringside)
GRAPEVINE, TEX. – Tasty local appetizer cards have become a staple of promoter Top Rank’s superfight weekends, and Friday night’s fare at the Gaylord Texan Hotel & Convention Center – an opening course for “The Event” on Saturday – was no exception. Featuring a Filipino and a Mexican in the main event and crowd-pleasers from around the world in seven other matches, the card delighted its capacity crowd in a sweeping luxury compound northwest of Dallas.
Filipino flyweight Richie Mepranum (16-2-1, 3 KOs) and Mexican Hernan Marquez (25-1, 18 KOs) made a fantastic 10-round battle in Friday’s main event, one in which the light-hitting southpaw from the Philippines absorbed everything the Mexican could throw his way and hung on to win a unanimous decision: 99-91, 96-94 and 98-92.
After starting slowly before a suddenly quiet crowd, Mepranum and Marquez gradually increased their punch output through the next six rounds, turning the eighth into the beginning of a three-stanza crescendo in which both fighters threw knockout blows, while failing to finish – or even much hurt – the other man.
Though the fans in attendance were evenly split between Filipinos and Mexicans, there was little outrage expressed from the Mexican side over the judges’ awarding the fight to Mepranum.
SAMUEL PETER VS. NAGY AGUILERA
Friday’s co-main event saw a fit and fired-up Samuel Peter (34-3, 27 KOs) box, counter and then blitz Dominican Nagy Aguilera (15-3, 10 KOs), winning by technical knockout at 2:24 of the second round.
Clues to Peter’s newfound seriousness were in evidence at Thursday’s weigh-in when the “Nigerian Nightmare” – whose fitness and heart have been questioned in the past – tipped the scale at 237 1/2 pounds, his lowest weight since 2001. After that, Peter showed surprising patience and technique (and abdominal muscles), countering Aguilera whenever the Dominican hung his jab. One such counter, a patented overhand right from Peter, took Aguilera’s knees from under his thighs, dropping him early in round 2.
Peter, never a shy finisher, showed uncharacteristic finesse after that, taking his time and waiting for Aguilera to hang one more jab. Aguilera complied, hanging another left hand – and Peter blasted him with a right cross that sent Aguilera sprawling into the ropes where Peter assaulted him till the referee waved an end to the match.
JOSE BENAVIDEZ VS. BOBBY HILL
In a showcase bout to close the opening hour of Fox Sports Español’s telecast, undefeated Phoenix prospect Jose Benavidez (3-0, 3 KOs) – a seven-time national amateur champion now fighting under the Top Rank banner – made decisive work of southpaw Mississippi lightweight Bobby Hill (1-4), stopping him at 2:59 of round 3. Benavidez, who at 6-foot-1 is an enormous 135 pounder, showed the joy of battle and willingness to exchange one hopes to find in a young prizefighter.
At times, though, that joy of battle led Benavidez to show the amateurish habit of dropping his lead hand to waist level while throwing the right cross. Under the watchful eyes of trainer Freddie Roach and mentor Jose Benavidez, Sr., however, that perilous habit should be eradicated soon.
“This was the first left-hander I’ve fought as a pro,” Benavidez said after the third opponent of his career. “But I had a lot of experience against them in the amateurs, and body shots always work.”
“After the second round, I was worried,” Jose Benavidez, Sr. said about a cold from which his son had been suffering all week. “But I told him to do what he had to do.” And that he did.
UNDERCARD
The night’s second televised bout saw super welterweight Houstonian Omar Henry (8-0, 7 KOs) race out his corner and ruin Mexican Francisco Reza (5-2, 4 KOs) in a half minute of relentless offensive assault. Henry dropped Reza 10 seconds into the match with lefts and rights everywhere. Reza rose and then dropped 10 seconds later. At 0:32 of round 1, the fight was over – Henry by TKO.
The evening’s final pre-television match saw Filipino welterweight Dennis Laurente (34-3-4, 17 KOs) decision Ghanaian strongman Ben Tackie (29-12-1, 17 KOs) in a competitive eight-round welterweight scrap. Though each round was close and Tackie clearly thought he’d won at least four, the official scorecards did not agree, unanimously seeing things for Laurente by scores of 77-75, 77-75 and 78-74.
Before that, Freddie Roach-trained Mexican heavyweight Andy Ruiz, Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) made quick work of Texan Luke Vaughn (0-2), stopping him with a textbook left hook to the liver at 1:55 of round 1. That was about the only thing that looked like it does in a textbook, as Ruiz – at 271 pounds of much more than striated muscle – wore a physique bearing no resemblance to that of his trainer’s most famous charge.
Starting the card was undefeated Washington D.C. lightweight contender Anthony Peterson (30-0, 20 KOs) in a 10-round bout with overmatched Puerto Rican Juan Ramon Cruz (16-8-1, 12 KOs). Peterson moved well, using his shell defense and waiting for openings, and did exactly what an undefeated contender is supposed to do with an eight-loss journeyman, off-television.
After felling Cruz in round 2, Peterson landed an impressive right uppercut/left hook combination in the third to begin the end of Cruz’s night. Dropped a second time, Cruz rose once more, got clipped with a right uppercut and dropped a third time. And so his night ended by TKO at 1:11 of the third round, preserving Peterson’s unblemished record.
The evening began about a half hour later than scheduled, as an ambulance had to be located before the card could commence. Attendance was good in the convention hall despite Friday’s card being made mostly for television.
Doors for Saturday’s fights open at 5:00 p.m. CT. 15rounds.com will have full ringside coverage of “The Event” in its entirety.
Clottey’s comedy corner turns weigh-in into laugh-in
By Norm Frauenheim
ARLINGTON, Tex. – Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey tried to play it straight when they were asked to pose. The stare-down is supposed to be serious stuff. One blink signals fear. But Pacquiao and Clottey laughed like kids at play. They couldn’t stop laughing.
A weigh-in, a well-rehearsed ritual, can be funny. One in front of Cowboys Stadium Friday was more laugh-in than weigh-in. Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) and Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs) made the welterweight limit, Clottey at 147 pounds and Pacquiao at 145 ¾, for their fight Saturday night at the $1.2 billion arena.
After they stepped off the official scale, they must have laughed off another quarter pound or two. The Clottey camp played the straight man, the tomato can. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach delivered the punch lines.
Clottey camper Gjin Gjini, owner of John’s Gym in New York, leaned over and told Roach that if the corners were fighting, Clottey’s corner would win in a beat-down. It was the equivalent of one kid telling another kid: My dad can whip your dad. No wonder they were laughing.
“He tells me that if the corners were fighting, we’d get beat up,’’ said Roach, who didn’t recall Ginji’s name and referred to him only as “the Albanian.”
At 50, Roach is well-past his best days as a brawling featherweight. Nevertheless, he has managed to become a target for insults from opposing corners. Floyd Mayweather, Sr., spouted dismissive poetry and few other things at Roach before Pacquiao knocked out Ricky Hatton. Joe Santiago took his rhetorical shots at Roach before Pacquiao’s stoppage of Miguel Cotto.
“When Manny fights Floyd Mayweather Jr., no telling what will happen between me and Roger Mayweather,’’ Roach said of Floyd’s uncle and trainer, also a former fighter. “Roger really doesn’t like me.’’
Anger at Roach from opposing camps might just be rooted in Pacquiao’s recent run of dominance. Nobody has been able to beat the Filipino, who was heavier than he has ever been at an official weigh-in. The Pacquiao reign isn’t expected to change against Clottey in a ring above the 50-yard line and beneath the biggest and brightest high-definition screen in this video universe and maybe a few others.
An undercurrent of rancor between the Clottey camp and Roach starts with Lenny DeJesus, who moved into Clottey’s corner as the lead trainer when Godwin Kotey of Ghana could not get a U.S. visa in time to travel to Dallas.
DeJesus was Pacquiao’s cutman. His role ended in 2005 after the Filipino’s loss to Erik Morales. It also was the last time Pacquiao lost. That fight represents some important history. DeJesus hopes it repeats itself. Roach has been making sure that it won’t. Pacquiao was badly cut over the left eye in the fifth round by head butt. DeJesus couldn’t stop the bleeding. Pacquiao, bothered by a river blood the flowed over and into his eye, couldn’t see well enough to stop Morales. Pacquiao lost a decision. DeJesus lost his job.
With Clottey, DeJesus has an opportunity at revenge with a durable fighter whose best weapon might be a head butt. A clash of heads against Cotto in June almost allowed Clottey to escape New York’s Madison Square Garden with a major upset instead of a loss by split decision.
“We won’t be there for that to happen,’’ Roach said of the head-butt possibility. “We’re at perfect fighting weight.”
Roach paused and added:
“We’re where we want to be.’’
Pacquiao has been for a while. That’s no joke.
WEIGHTS FROM DALLAS
Manny Pacquiao 145 3/4 – Joshua Clottey 147
JOSHUA CLOTTEY TO WEAR COV GLOVE THIS SATURDAY AGAINST MANNY PACQUIAO
PHILADELPHIA (MARCH 11, 2010)—This Saturday night in Arlington, Texas the first big fight of the new decade will take place as pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao will battle Joshua Clottey for the WBO Welterweight title at the beautiful Cowboys Stadium
Clottey will be wearing the Cov Glove for the big bout which will be fought in front of over 45,000 fans in the stadium, millions on HBO Pay-Per-View and countless around the world.\
The Cov Glove is a synthetic texture that covers the tape around the wrist. The Cov Glove protects the fighter from having his tape come loose.
“Joshua has been a big supporter of the product since day one”, said David Price, founder and CEO of Cov Glove
“For him to wear it in such an important fight shows that he has confidence in the product and hopefully the fans all over the world are able to see the value of the Cov Glove in this fight.”
ESPN News- Festive Cowboys Stadium weighs in Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey March 13, 2010Festive Cowboys Stadium weighs in Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey. […]Calvin Watkins
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- Former lightweight champ Spadafora stops Fiorletta in 8th round March 12, 2010Former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora stopped Italy's Ivan Fiorletta in the eighth round Friday night. […]Associated Press
- Junior welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. signs with HBO March 12, 2010Junior welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr., the No. 1-rated 140-pounder in the world since pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao's exit from the division, will switch to HBO. […]Dan Rafael
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- Festive Cowboys Stadium weighs in Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey March 13, 2010
