Betting on Juanma in 2010’s fight of the year
By Bart Barry
Before you put all your money on the single toss of Yuriorkis Gamboa over Juan Manuel Lopez in a featherweight superfight, consider this: Gamboa just razed a guy with 13 losses coming up (or not) from a weight class below; Lopez just rose four pounds to take the WBO belt from a titlist with one career loss. Sobriety is warranted.
But not much. Gamboa’s ruination of Rogers Mtagwa in their WBA featherweight title tilt at Madison Square Garden’s theater, Saturday, was a good show. It was improved by Gamboa’s needing only 5 1/2 minutes to stop Mtagwa, a feat Lopez didn’t pull off in 36.
Lopez, for his part, was not idle. In the main event of HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” doubleheader, “Juanma” outfought Steven Luevano to claim a second title in as many weight classes, stopping the veteran Californian at 0:44 of round seven.
The more telegenic display belonged to Gamboa. Every time he saw Mtagwa’s right shoulder twitch for a cross, Gamboa fired a left hook. And he didn’t miss. Mtagwa was a pitiable target for the fight’s duration, leading referee Steve Smoger’s TKO signal to get the old “merciful” label.
How much was Mtagwa affected by what he and Lopez did to one another in October? Why didn’t Mtagwa come within 3 1/2 pounds of the featherweight limit for this fight? Good questions, both. But we’re not much interested in the answers. We’re interested in how Gamboa’s undoing of Mtagwa helps ensure Gamboa’s next opponent is Lopez. Saturday’s action helped.
Puerto Ricans were always going to turn out for Lopez in a world title fight. Now many of us can turn out for Gamboa, a 126-pound Cuban version of Mike Tyson with better habits in the ring and out.
Thoughts of Tyson had to have gone through a few minds Saturday. The spite for an opponent’s primitive skills combined with well-leveraged short hooks, quick feet and a brutal ending. Such thoughts will go through many more minds if Gamboa finds a way to make Juanma into Michael Spinks – a prospect by no means impossible and by all means unlikely.
Because he’s been kept on Top Rank pay-per-view undercards and long lacked a ringside identity, Steven Luevano has not been properly appreciated. By extension, few fans will credit Lopez properly for what he just did. Luevano hasn’t concussive power, incalculable speed or impenetrable defense. But he has wiles. And he’d had class enough to make it through six title fights without being beaten, much less stopped. He was not, then, the sort of prizefighter you hammer with a right uppercut.
Yet that’s what Lopez did early in the seventh round. Once he saw Luevano’s chin rise and eyes grow, Lopez, a southpaw, threw a left cross, stepped his back foot to the front, and blasted Luevano with a right hook. That was a finisher’s move.
Lopez had a lot of reminding to do Saturday, and he accomplished most of it. But after Rogers Mtagwa took him cruising up and down “queer street” – that GPS coordinate old timers employed before there was GPS – just 105 days ago, Lopez now has a somewhat scuffed image in most serious fans’ minds. That’s fine.
We turn to the fairer sex for an idea about scuffing things. Women have a learned distrust for the smooth. Dollar bills and shoe soles, specifically. Until you’ve roughed-up a newly minted bill, it has an unfortunate tendency to adhere to other bills. And until you’ve roughed up the underside of a sole, it has a dangerous tendency to treat dust and water like ice. Both bills and shoes, though, retain their value long after you’ve scuffed them.
Lopez is now scuffed and trustworthy. We know that when he is semiconscious from fatigue and blows to the head, his impulse is to swim at an opponent, forsaking unreliable reflexes and raising the stakes for both men.
Norm Frauenheim captured something like this idea a few years ago in The Arizona Republic when he wrote “undefeated is untested” then disqualified any unvanquished fighter from his all-time Top 5 list. There’s wisdom in that, which is probably why it incites young fans.
About a decade ago when Roy Jones Jr. terrified civil servants in the light heavyweight division, RJJ was fond of dismissing fans’ pleas for larger challenges by saying, “Y’all just wanna see me bleed.” Today he wishes he could have those bloodless days back.
While it behooves managers and promoters to demand the highest pay for the slightest risk, ultimately it cheats both fighters and aficionados. If you are a fan of prizefighting – not merely your favorite prizefighter’s cheerleader – you want to see a fighter bloodied, roughed up, scuffed. It reveals his character and worthiness of your devotion.
If you love an athlete too much to bear the sight of his being bludgeoned by another man’s fists, that’s understandable. Boxing isn’t your sport.
To date, Yuriorkis Gamboa has been dropped several times but never hurt. He’s taken a fantastic amateur career and used its lessons to see wide openings and exploit them completely. Gamboa has not yet had to create openings against an equal. He’s not yet had to clip someone like Steven Luevano with a right uppercut in the seventh round of a competitive fight. Does Gamboa know how to do this? Yes. Can he land that punch on a veteran titlist? We have no idea.
But we should desperately want to find out. Gamboa contends Juan Manuel Lopez is not in his category, and he may be right. It’s hard to think of anyone currently at 126 pounds who’s better capable of matching Gamboa’s speed, power, technique and experience than Lopez, though.
If Lopez-Gamboa happens, even with Vazquez-Marquez IV already on the docket, there’s good reason to think it will be the best mix of violence, class and consequence we see in 2010.
Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry
FOLLOW LOPEZ – LUEVANO; GAMBOA-MTAGWA LIVE!!!
Follow all the action LIVE from ringside as Steven Luevano defends his WBO featherweight title against former WBO Super Bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez. In the opening bout Yuriorkis Gamboa takes on the tough Rogers Mtagwa for the WBA Featherweight championship. The action begins at 9:45 eastern Time/6:45 Pacific
12 Rounds WBO Featherweight title–Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KO’s) vs Juan Manuel Lpez (27-0, 24 KO’s)
Round 1: Lopez lands a jab…Left cross..1-2…good right hook inside…10-9 Lopez
Round 2: Lopez lands a counter left,..Luevano lands a right to the body…right hook..Luvano lands a left and right…2 straight lefts for Lopez…right to body and then head at end of round…20-18 Lopez
Round 3: Good left hook from Lopez…follows up with a nice right uppercut…Luevano lands a counter left…Hard straight left from Lopez…uppercut gets through…Luevano bledding from nose…Big left backs Luevano up…30-27 Lopez
Round 4: Luevano lands a counter left…Right hook inside…2 hard lefts from Lopez to the head…Luevano trying to jab…Good body shot followed by a right to end the round…40-36 Lopez
Round 5: Right hook from Lopez…good straight left…. Uppercut…Luevano lands a traight left…50-45 Lopez
Round 6: Double right hook sends Luevano back…Hard left…Lopez really putting on the pressure…60-54 Lopez
Round 7: big upeercut sets a FIVE PUNCH COMBINATION FINISHED UP BY A HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES LUEVANO AND REFEREE BENJI ESTEVES STOPS THE FIGHT
TKO 7 FOR LOPEZ
Round 5:
12 Rounds–WBA Featherweight Title–Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0, 14 KO’s) vs Rogers Mtagwa (25-13-2, 18 KO’s)
Round 1: Gamboa lands a hard left hook…Over hand right…Hard left on ropes..hard hook…Counter left to the body……LEFT HOOK TO HEAD DOWN GOES MTAGWA…10-8 Gamboa
Round 2: Gambo landing a plethora of hard shots…Mtagwa looks dazed…HARD COMBINATION FINISHED BY A LEFT HOOK…DOWN GOES MTAGWA…BIG COMBINATION…DOWN GOES MTAGWA…STEVE SMOGER STOPS THE FIGHT
Round 2:
Lopez & Gamboa score impressive knockouts; Showdown on the way?
By Marc Abrams & Matt Yanofsky (Ringside)
Juan Manuel Lopez became a two division world champion after scoring a jaw dropping seventh round stoppage over WBO Featherweight titleholder Steven Lueveno. After a slow opening round where both men mostly took their time, Lopez took control. With upwards of 5,000 Puerto Rican supporters cheering him on at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Lopez landed a number of solid uppercuts, body shots and straight left hands in close quarters.
The counter punching Lueveno surprisingly tried to make it a dog fight and was able to land a few head shots, but ultimately ended up paying the price for not sticking to his game plan. Lopez thoroughly dominated the sixth, where Lueveno’s punch out dramatically decreased.
With a gassed opponent in front of him in round seven, Lopez badly rocked Lueveno with a hard uppercut before dropping him on his back with a left hook. Lueveno stood up on shaky legs, forcing referee Benji Esteves to stop the contest 44 seconds in.
The victory will likely set up a unification with Yuriorkis Gamboa. — Matt Yanofsky
Yuriorkis Gamboa retained his WBA “Regular” Featherweight title after demolishing tough Philadelphia based Tanzanian Rogers “The Tiger” Mtagwa inside of two rounds. From the opening moments of the fight, Gamboa’s advantage in speed and athleticism was evident. The 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist tagged Mtagwa with a number of clean head shots in the opening stanza en route to scoring a flash knockdown with a perfectly timed left hook.
Gamboa blitzed Mtagwa in round two, decking him hard with another left hook. The game Mtagwa did all he could to survive the rest of the round, but a combination from the rapidly improving Gamboa sent him crumbling to the canvas, forcing referee Steve Smoger to call a halt to the contest at 2:35.
Gamboa, of Miami, FL via Cuba, improves to 17-0 (15 KO’s), while Mtagwa drops to 25-14-2 (18 KO’s).–Matt Yanofsky
Popular Middleweight “Irish” John Duddy needed just 115 seconds to dismantle Juan Astorga in a bout scheduled for eight rounds.
Duddy dropped Astorga with what looked like a left to the top of the head on a punch that did not look like a telling blow. Duddy emphatically put Astorga down for a second and final time as he dropped Astorga with a vicious left hand to the body. Astorga was in pain and the referee stopped his count at five with Astorga riving on pain in the ground.
Duddy, 160 1/2 lbs of New York, NY is now 28-1 with eighteen knockouts. Astorga, 159 1/2 lbs of Lee’s Summitt, MO is now 14-4-1.
Junior Middleweight rising star Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak scored a one-sided eight round over Ishmail Arvin. Wolak pressured Arvin from bell to bell, tagging the Baltimore, MD native with crisp shots to both the body and the head. Arvin showed tremendous heart and refused to back down, but Wolak, who also showed improved head movement, simply had too much. Scores were 80-72 and 79-73 twice.
“This was a tough fight” said Wolak, a Mount Arlington, NJ native who improved to 26-1 with 18 knockouts with the victory. “He was a physical fighter and landed some good shots so I owe him all the credit in the world for coming to fight and I am ready for whoever is next.”
Arvin drops to 15-2-4 (7 KO’s) with the defeat.
Jr. Welterweight Chris Algieri was bloodied but that didint deter him from pounding out a six round unanimous decision over James Hope.
Algieri continued to come forward despite the blood leaking from his nose and landed some solid left hooks against the game Hope.
Algieri, 140 1/2 lbs of Huntington, NY won by scores of 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56 to stay undefeated at 10-0. Hope, 141 1/4 lbs of Rock Hill, SC is now 4-4.
Exciting featherweight prospect Jorge “Kid” Diaz, of Jersey City, NJ upped his record to 11-0 (7 KO’s) after demolishing Denver, CO’s Tommy Atencio in 87 seconds. Diaz dropped Atencio, 4-4 (2 KO’s), hard with an overhand right and again with a solid body, which ended Atencio’s night.
“I went into the fighting looking to box” said Diaz, who scored a jaw dropping knockout against 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Yan Barthelemy the last time he fought at Madison Square Garden. “I caught him hard with that right hand, so the opening was there to end it early”.
According to Diaz’ manager Pat Lynch, Diaz will return March 20 in Florida.
Queens, NY’s Will Rosinsky improved to 10-0 (6 KO’s) after scoring a workmanlike four round decision over durable Markas Gonazlez of Kansas City, KS. Rosinsky, a multi time Golden Gloves champion, landed a number of good body shots and straight right hands. To his credit, Gonzalez never gave up and pressured Rosinsky from bell to bell. Scores were 40-35 and 40-36 twice. With the defeat, Gonzalez drops to 7-3 (4 KO’s).
Local favorite Tommy Rainone used a second round knockdown to facilitate a four round unanimous decision over Gerardo Cesar Prieto.
Rainone dropped Prieto with a straight left hand and coasted down the stretch as he moved out of dodge from any of Prieto’s offense.
Scores were 40-35; 39-36; and 39-36 for Rainone, 148 lbs of Plain View, NY and is now 13-3. Prieto, 147 lbs of Provo, UT is now 6-8-1.
Former Puerto Rican Olympan, Carlos Negron scored a six round unanimous decision over Garrett Wilson in a Ccruiserweight bout.
Negron battered the game Wilson as he landed numerous body punches and when he went to the head he drew blood from the nose of Wilson as early as round three. Wilson would leap inm and try to land the one scoring blow that would turn the fight around but that didn’t happen as Negron used almost a one foot height advantage to easily avoid any of Wilson’s big shots.
Wilson, 181 lbs of San Juan, Puerto Rico won by scores of 60-54 on all cards is now 7-0. Wilosn, 178 1/2 lbs of Philadelphia is now 7-3.
Photos by Chris Farina of Top Rank
Weights from New York City
Steve Luevano 126 – Juan Manuel Lopez 125.5
(WBO Featherweight championship)
Yuriorkis Gamboa 126 – Rogers Mtagwa 122.5
(WBA Featherweight championship)
John Duddy 160 – Juanh Astrorga
Caballero: ““IF YOU’RE THE MAN YOU SAY YOU ARE, TELL YOUR MANAGER AND PROMOTER THAT YOU WON’T FIGHT ANYONE BUT ME NEXT.”
HOLLYWOOD, FL, October 13 – After WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez barely survived a 12 round war with huge underdog Rogers Mtagwa Saturday night in New York City, it was no surprise that Lopez’ team began scurrying for the door when it came to the proposed unification bout with WBA / IBF champion Celestino Caballero.
“I’m not surprised at all,” said a disappointed and angry Caballero. “Everyone knows that Lopez and his team don’t want any part of me, and him almost getting knocked out by an old man with 12 losses just confirms that he will continue to fight opponents who either can’t punch, can’t move, or can’t be stronger than he is.”
Most boxing observers expected that the highly-anticipated unification bout would be signed and announced following the Lopez-Mtagwa match, but Lopez’ life and death struggle in defense of his title has made Bob Arum and Top Rank, Lopez’ promoters, look for less threatening opposition, and Arum has even claimed that Caballero turned down an offer for the fight, something Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing, says is a lie.
“We were never even presented an offer for the fight,” said Margules. “I want this fight, Celestino wants this fight, and the fans want this fight, so we are willing to do whatever it takes to make it. But I know after Saturday night, the odds of getting this fight done have dwindled considerably.”
Meanwhile, Caballero hopes one last plea to Lopez will turn the tide and give fans a 122-pound superfight in 2010.
“JuanMa, I saw in Primera Hora that you said that you want to fight me, but that your promoters don’t want it,” said Caballero. “I’ll take you at your word on that, but if that’s true, you need to let Top Rank know that you’re the champion and you’re the boss. You’re the one in the ring doing the fighting, so if you’re the man you say you are, tell your manager and promoter that you won’t fight anyone but me next. If you do, I promise I won’t punish you for 12 rounds; I’ll just take you out in five or less.”
For more information visit www.warriorsBoxing.com
Lopez survives Mtagwa to barely hold on to 122 lb crown
By Marc Abrams & Matt Yanofsky (Ringside)
In a building that has housed many great fights, Madison Square Garden added another classic as this time the WAmu Theater attached to the hallowed hall saw Juan Manuel Lopez retain his WBO Super Bantamweight championship with a majority decision over heavy underdog Rogers Mtagwa.
It was Lopez early who had the advantage as he timed Mtagwa repeatedly was hard shots. Mtagwa seemed to have been dropped on a short hook inside in the first stanza but referee Eddie Cotton ruled a slip. In round five, Lopez landed a perfect left that was followed by a right hook that sent the challenger to the canvas. Mtagwa started getting through a little more consistently in round six as he started to work the body.
The two traded furiously over the second half of the fight with both giving and getting equally in the middle rounds. In round ten, Mtagwa was wailing away on a visibly tired Lopez and the feeling in the room was that the tide was turning in Mtagwa’s favor. In round eleven, Mtagwa continued to batter Lopez all over the ring and it seemed like Lopez was one or two punches from seeing the canvas himself. Lopez showed a good heart and smarts to smother and hold to escape the round. In the final round it was more of the same as Mtagwa had Lopez in serious trouble as he continued to batter Lopez with pounding rights to the head with the ropes only holding Lopez on his feet. This fight had alot of drama and the furious exchanges made this a candidate for Fight of the Year honors.
Lopez of Caguas, Puerto Rico won by scores of 115-111, 114-114 and third card read 116-116. 15rounds.com card had Mtagwa 115-113.
Lopez is now 27-0. Mtagwa is now 25-13-2
Yuriorkis Gamboa made the first defense of the WBA Featherweight title with a fourth round destruction of Whyber Garcia.
Gamboa was much too athletic for Garcia who was eating counters from the first round on. In round four, Gamboa came out for blood as he ripped hard shots from the outset and drilled Garcia with a huge counter right that sent the challenger to the canvas. Garcia got to his feet only to eat about fifteen hard punches before refere Steve Smoger stopped the fight at fifty-eight seconds of round four.
“I planned to take my time in the first few rounds”, Gamboa exclusively told 15rounds. “I saw an opening in the third round and knew that Garcia was done after the knockdown.”
Team Gamboa confidently stated that their fighter is ready to take on all comers in the featherweight division.
Gamboa, 124 1/2 lbs of Miami is now 16-0 with fourteen stoppages. Garcia, 124 1/2 lbs of Panama City, Panama is now 22-7.
2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Odlanier Solis, of Miami by way of Cuba, destroyed late replacement Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett inside of two rounds. After clearly taking the first round,Solis dropped Barrett twice in the second, forcing referee Wayne Kelly to stop the bout at 1:54.
“Were ready for anybody”, said assistant trainer Mark Ramsey.
Ramsey also dismissed the issue with his conditioning by stating that Solis will more than likely settle in around 260 lbs.
Solis, who came in at a disappointing 271 lbs, improves to 15-0 (11 KO’s) Barrett, of Queens, NY, drops to 34-8 (20 KO’s).
In typical Wolak fashion, The Jersey City native blistered Nacsimento with hard shots to the body and head while fighting in close quarters. Wolak cut Nascimento in round two over the left eye brow and dropped him in the fourth with a big left hook.
The game and bloody Nascimento came out for the fifth round but things did not go his way as Wolak bullied Nascimento and dropped him with a left to the body. Nascimento’s corner mercifully put an end to the end to evening by stopping the bout in between five and six.
Wolak, 155 1/2 is now 25-1 with seventeen knockouts. Nascimento, 154 lbs of Brazil is now 24-2.
John Duddy inched closer to a showdown with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. with an eight round unanimous decision over Michi Munoz in a Middleweight bout.
It was typical Duddy as he was more active but got hit alot with shots from a perceived inferior opponent. In fact Munoz bloodied Duddy’s nose as early as round two.
Duddy, 161 lbs of New York City won by scores 80-73, 79-73 and 79-73 to raise his record to 27-1. Munoz, 160 lbs of Topeka, Kansas is now 21-4
Super Bantamweight Jorge “The Kid” Diaz of Jersey City, NJ scored a highlight reel knockout over 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Yan Barthelemy of Miami, FL by way of Cuba. Diaz pressed Barthelemy from the opening bell, working both the body and head of his experienced opponent. Barthelemy had moments of success while boxing from a distance but couldn’t handle the pressure of the local favorite. Diaz unloaded a monstrous left hook in the sixth round, putting Barthelemy down for the count.
Barthelemy remained on the canvas for a few minutes after the bout but left the ring under his own power to a standing ovation of the relieved crowd. Time of stoppage was 1:07 of the sixth and final round. Diaz moves to 10-0 (6 KO’s) Barthelemy falls to 8-2 (1 KO).
“I expected him to hurt Barthelemy earlier” said Mike Skowronski, Diaz’ trainer. “He went to work in the fifth and sixth round and finished him in fashion.”
2008 Olympian Carlos Negron remained perfect with a four round unanimous decision over Larry Pryor .
Freakishly tall and lanky and 6′6″ 180 lbs, Negron used his reach to his advantage and claerly took the first three rounds by outboxing Pryor.
The game Pryor won the final round with solid body work.
Scores were 40-36, 39-37 and 39-37 for Negron, 180 lbs of San Juan, Puerto Rico and is now 7-0. Pryor, 180 1/2 lbs of Houston is now 4-5.
Omar Chavez remained undefeated with a six round unanimous decision over James Ventry in a Super Lightweight bout.
Chavez dropped Ventry with a hard over hand right in round two. Chavez continued to batter Ventry with hard shots in round three. Ventry showed courage as he tried to fight back but Chavez was too much and won by scores of 59-54, 58-55 and 58-55.
Chavez, 143 lbs of Culican, Mexico is now 18-0-1. Ventry, 143 1/2 lbs of Toledo, Ohio is now 7-10-1.
In the opening bout of the evening, Martin Tucker upset previously unbeaten Michael Torres of Jersey City, NJ. Torres started well, using his range to box, but Tucker continued to press forward and dropped Torres in rounds five and six of this solid action bout. All three judges scored the contest 57-56 Tucker, of Toledo, Oh, moves to 7-5 (3 KO’s) while the highly touted Torres falls to 13-1 (7 KO’s).
FULL LATIN FURY 12 PREVIEW
By Marc Abrams
Saturday night at the WAmu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Top Rank’s highly successful Latin Fury series has its twelfth installment with maybe its best lineup as Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa defend their world titles in separate bouts which could be a prelude to a matchup of the two young stars in 2010 that has the hardcore fans salivating at that prospective showdown.
There are two other fights on the televised portion of the ten bout card that Cuban exile Odlanier Solis facing his toughest challenge to date in the battle tested Monte Barrett. Exciting Polish Jr. Middleweight Pawel Wolak will open the show as he battles Brazilian Carlos Nascimento.
There is some solid talent off-tv that will feature the likes of John Duddy, Carlos Negron, and undefeated Jr. Featherweight Jorge Diaz.
Juan Manuel Lopez (26-0, 24 KO’s) makes the 5th defense of the WBO Jr. Featherweight title against Rogers Mtagwa (26-12-2, 18 KO’s)
This fight is not the blowout it looks on paper. Will Lopez win? Yes. But Mtagwa is a tough blue collar fighter who leaves everything he has inside the ring.
Lopez has the advantage in every physical category but Mtagwa has a heart of a lion (actually a Tiger since that is the African’s nickname). If you don’t believe, just watches Mtagwa’s thrilling come from behind and off the canvas victory over Tomas Villa just one year ago. Mtagwa was dropped in the 9th and way behind on the cards before he came back to drop Villa three time in the final round to pull out the sensation victory.
He will need a miracle like that to compete with ultra-talented Lopez, who is fast becoming one of the most exciting stars not only in the lower weight classes but is pounding on the door of many Pound for Pound lists.
This is a fight where Mtagwa’s hear will get him some moments in this fight but I am afraid that will play right into Lopez’ hands as he is evolving into a complete fighter who can starch a fighter with one punch or break him down with effective volume
Lopez wins this one inside six.
Yuriorkis Gamboa (15-0, 13 KO’s) makes the 1st defense of his WBA Featherweight title against Whyber Garcia (22-6, 15 KO’s)
Gamboa may be the most talented fighter in the game. Yes I said it. In terms of speed/power combination, Gamboa is a freak of nature. He has been blowing guys out with some bumps in the road.
He has been dropped three times because he has so much confidence in his ability that he leaves his hands down that has him exposed to be hit. What has been interesting as Gamboa’s opposition has improved his defense has been a little tighter.
If the adage that a fighter becomes twenty percent better once he wins a title, it could be scary to see how high the ceiling will be on Gamboa’s career.
Garcia is a veteran who has fought some solid opposition such as the dynamic Edwin Valero and Jorge Linares (Ed.note Linares was knocked out Saturday by Juan Carlos Selgado)and hasn’t fared well when he stepped up. Garcia seems to be fodder for Gamboa as he been stopped four times in his six losses.
Gamboa in three.
Odlanier Solis (14-0, 10 KO’s) vs Monte Barrett (34-7, 20 KO’s) in a 10 round Heavyweight bout
Solis defected from Cuba with Gamboa and has been in the Featherweight champion’s shadow. He isn’t as dynamic but he has a terrific amateur pedigree and is taking a leap up in competition when he takes on late replacement and former world title challenger Monte Barrett.
Solis was originality supposed to fight the similarly undefeated Kevin Johnson in a bout that had boxing insiders excited. Johnson pulled out of the fight with a perspective December 1th title fight against Vitali Klitschko.
Then it was Fres Oquendo bowing out with a legal issue. Enter Monte Barrett on four days notice.
Barrett has been in with the “whose who” of the Heavyweight division. Barrett at this point maybe at the end of the line but could be very dangerous to a prospect. Even though he is coming off a fifth round knockout loss to David Haye last November, Barrett is still a dangerous veteran that could give any major prospect problems.
This has the makings of a tactical fight as Solis will try to establish his jab and slowly break Barrett down. Barrett seems to be in much better shape at 218 ½ lbs to Solis 271. If somehow Barrett can apply just enough pressure to exploit Solis lack of conditioning he will be able to use his big fight experience to get Solis into the deep waters of the fight.
I see Barrett having some success early but Solis will start to find a nice groove that may have Barrett controlled for most of the fight and Solis gets a nice name on his resume by pounding out a unanimous decision.
Pawel Wolak (24-1, 16 KO’s) vs Carlos Nasciemnto (24-1, 20 KO’s) in a 10 round Jr. Middleweight bout
Wolak fights in a very exciting style as he is a shorter Jr. Middleweight who only knows one way and that’s forward.
Wolak has won three in a row since his lone defeat at the crafty hands of Ishe Smith.
Nascimento from all reports is a puncher. The Brazilian with his only loss being a world title opportunity when he as stopped by the classy Sergiy Dzinzurak when Nascimento challenged for the WBO belt.
This fight is the sleeper fight of the card as it will be ruthless aggression against a pure puncher.
OFF-TV NOTES
For the fans who get to MSG early, an outstanding undercard has been assembled and here are some thumbnail thoughts:
John Duddy (26-1, 17 KO’s) – Michi Munoz(21-3, 14 KO’s) (Middleweights)—Duddy looks to tune up for a perspective St. Patrick’s Day showdown with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (who will be ringside)
Jorge Diaz (9-0, 5 KO’s) – yan Barthelemy (8-1, 1KO) (super bantamweights)—Diaz is an all action fighter from Pat Lynch’s stable of young guns. It was just a year ago where Barthelemy was considered another can’t miss prospect from Cuba until he was upset by a journeyman opponent. Very interesting fight.
Omar Chavez (17-0-1, 13 KO’s) – James Ventry (7-9-1, 4 KO’s)—Welterweights—the 19 year old son of Julio Cesar Chavez continues to build a record against soft opposition.
Carlos Negron (5-0, 5 KO’s) – Larry Porter (4-5, 2 KO’s)—Good looking former Puerto Rican Olympian in Negron has used his 6’5” frame to stopped four of his five victims in the first round. Negron is just twenty-one so he is one to keep an eye on
Weights from New York City
Juan Manuel Lopez 121 – Rogers Mtagwa 121
Yuriorkis Gamboa 124.5 – Whyber Garcia 124.5
Odlanier Solis 271 – Monte Barrett 218.5
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ and YURIORKIS GAMBOA NEWS CONFERENCE QUOTES
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ
He’s a real tough guy and I know he can take a lot of punches. I don’t think it’s going to be an easy fight and I know it is going to be a long fight. There are older guys in boxing that have done a lot, but I know my abilities and I know what I can do and I know I can beat him. People think it will be an easy fight because he has a lot of losses but I will have to work hard to get it.
I think with this guy you have to step away from him a little bit. He’s a little awkward and I have been practicing stepping back a little bit.
If a knockout comes it comes but I don’t go in there looking for it. I just keep working. I would love a first round knockout and if it comes it will be an easy night, but that is not going to happen every night.
My skills have always been there but I don’t get to use them. I have not had someone to push me. I know that better fighters will come along and they will make me fight.
For any Puerto Rican, this is a big site, this is a big venue and this is where you want to be, This is where you want to showcase yourself like Miguel Cotto and Tito Trinidad. I talk to Tito almost every day and he tells how exciting it is to fight in the Garden. It is a very special place to fight.
I am on the road to gaining all the exposure that I need. I just need to keep fighting bigger fights and I feel that we are on the right road.
I’d like to win four titles in four weight divisions, something no Puerto Rican has ever done. That is my goal. I feel like I will go to 126 sooner rather than later.
I started at 21 years old and have been fighting for five years at 122 pounds and now my body is ready to go up.
My idol is and always has been Tito Trinidad. We have become real good friends and he calls me all the time and we talk about everything. He can’t be here because he has something with his daughter but he has been to most of my title fights.
He tells me that the fights are won in the gym and that is what I always try to do. He always tells me about the great experiences he has had at the Garden. I get excited when he talks about the fights he has had here and that is why I am so excited to fight here and follow in his footsteps.
A lot of people are talking about Gamboa, but I don’t think about that. I think about my next fight. Gamboa fight may happen but that is far down the road.
GAMBOA
Just by being in the storied building means that I am achieving my goals.
I have to win the fights and win convincingly to get to where I want to get…bigger fights and bigger paydays.
(Your opponent has been knocked out a few times…)
You don’t measure a man by how many times he falls, but by how many times he gets up.
It was a big risk for me to leave and take the stuff that I took, leaving not only the boxing team but leaving my country. It just goes on to prove that if I seat a goal I can accomplish it.
We had none of the commodities (in Cuba) that we enjoy here today. My family and my friendships are the things that I miss the most. My family knows every step I take and they are very proud of that. They know what this venue means.
I can feel the energy like it is on my doorstep, but first I have to pass this test on Saturday before I think about what happens next.
There is no one that I have copied a style from. I never really got to see many professional fights in Cuba, just one here or one there. I have just made my own style. Videos circle around the neighborhoods and sometimes tourists bring over tapes.
Q & A with Juan Manuel Lopez
TODD DUBOEF (President, Top Rank): We are real excited about this event. As you know, we have a real forte of developing fighters and having young prospects. Even though we are in the middle of football and in the middle of the baseball playoffs, we think this is the right place to be. I am going to use October like we are at the beginning of the year for guys like JuanMa and Gamboa and Solis, Wolak and Omar Chavez, guys that are all going to be on this great show. We think this is a significant show for everyone to see their progress.
PETER RIVERA (PR Best Boxing, JuanMa co-promoter): We are very excited. We all know that Top Rank has done a great job building fighters such as Miguel Cotto and it has worked. We are expecting a lot of Puerto Ricans at the fights.
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: I just want to let everyone know that I am very grateful for this opportunity to be on this great show. I have worked very hard preparing myself for anything and everything that can happen in the ring. I know Rogers Mtagwa is a tough guy but I am ready for him and I am more than ready to do battle.
Is there an incentive fighting on the same night as Israel Vazquez knowing that may be a future fight?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Without a doubt I am going to be rooting for him to win. I am going to win on the same night and I do look forward to fighting him in the future. I know there are a lot of good fights out there and my company is going to be making those great fights for me. Yes, that is one guy I would look forward to fighting if there is an opportunity to do so.
Caballero has been saying a lot of things about you…
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: Right now I am just concentrating on my fight with Mtagwa. I know he is out there and I’m looking forward to shutting his mouth up once and for all. I am just looking forward to October 10 and there are some big names out there that I can fight and whoever is next, is next.
Fighting in New York?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: The opportunity to fight in New York is obviously a pinpoint market for a Puerto Rican. It is a great opportunity for me and I didn’t expect it to happen this soon. I am just very happy that it is going to be coming up and I am going to fight in such an important arena.
Gamboa in the future?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: As you may know I am doing this and maybe one more fight at 122 and I am looking forward to going up to 126 and it is a fight that has been mentioned and a fight that is out there and if it can be done, great. It is a great challenge for me and I think it is a great fight for both of us.
Will he watch Gamboa fight in the dressing room or watch later?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: I will be focused on my fight in the dressing room but I may take a couple of glances at the TV. If the fight comes and it happens…I do know him very well. I have had the opportunity to see him fight a few times and I know how he fights and I know what he likes to do. There is no doubt in my mind that when we do fight I can beat him but it will be a tough fight.
TODD DUBOEF: I just want to mention that this will be the first time that there will be a TV blackout into the locker room so he doesn’t get distracted. Yes, I was joking, but obviously he has to perform and I wouldn’t throw away not considering it because he’s got a big road a head of him. He may just have one more fight at 122 and October 10 is a big performance for him.
Is JuanMa excited that he is the centerpiece and all fighters want to fight him and no one else?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: It is a big compliment when people talk to me like that, about me being the centerpiece. It is not only me, my company has worked and my team has worked to put me at this point in my career and now it is up to me to do what they expect me to do.
TODD DUBOEF: It is true that he has to do what he has to do but through our relationship with Peter Rivera or PR Best Boxing. We develop these business models around these young men that they become the epicenter of where the storm is. There are people out there that know where the money is and the fighters are the biggest attraction.
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: We take this one step at a time and we make sure everything is right and everything is correct as we move ahead. The opportunities are out there but we have to take them one step at a time. We can’t run to them, I know I am not a rookie any more but I am not at the elite level yet and I need a big fight that will put me at the elite level. I am working towards that we are all working towards that. Just take my time and make it right and make it perfect.
Strengths and weaknesses of Mtagwa?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: He is a guy that comes at you and throws a lot of punches. He is kind of awkward and throws punches from a lot of directions and he plans to overwhelm you with punches. But he also leaves himself open so you can counter-punch him and you can get some real good punches at him – he’s not a good defender. I think if I put my punches together I think he is a guy that I can knockout.
How is this going to be different for you to fight in the Mecca of Boxing?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: It is very important for me to look great and to show everyone in New York, not only the Puerto Ricans but everyone that is there who comes to see our fights that I am a good fighter and I can do something special. I am looking forward to doing something very impressive because I do want to go back to the big building. I do want to fight in the big building and hopefully soon. Not only that, but I want to show all the people watching these great fights on TV.
Define great…
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: I like to show them a little bit of everything. I know I’m a great defensive fighter. I know I’m a great offensive fighter. Everyone knows my power. I like to show them a little bit of everything that I can do.
Fighting in the Garden atmosphere…
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: We all want to be like Cotto fighting in the big arena at Madison Square Garden, that’s what we all look forward to. That’s what I look forward to and I have to work hard to get there, but don’t doubt me, I will get there. I will have one of those great fights there.
They always talk about the great Puerto Rican fighters that fight at the Garden, how do you feel being compared to that?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: It is a great honor to be compared to Trinidad and Cotto and Gomez. People that compare me to them – it is a great honor. I know they have heart to get to where they did. I know how hard I work to get to where I am. I know if I work harder I will be at the same level as those guys.
TODD DUBOEF: There are two kinds of clock with these young fighters in this business. One is their marketability clock and one is their boxing ability clock. When we have a guy that is in the epicenter of these big fights being done with the different types of opponents that he has in front of him, we have to take both of those things into consideration. Mtagwa is going to be a fight that you are on pins and needles with. He had a run of three or four first round knockouts and that was great for his marketability, but the truth is what did it do for his boxing ability? We don’t know. So these types of matches are the types that will test him, make him a better fighter and an attraction at the same time.
Have you done anything different to prepare for Mtagwa?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: I think of a couple of guys that were bigger and stronger that have moved down to fight me, I’m thinking of (Gilberto) Bolanos (2006) and (Hugo) Dianzo (2007). They were tough fights and difficult fights but I think I am very prepared for those types of fighters now.
I have not had the opportunity nor the opponent that has made me use all of my skills that I have. I think that I have all the skills that I need in the ring, I just haven’t had a fighter pressure me to make me use all of my boxing skills yet. There will be a time in my career and if I go up to 126 I’m sure there will be some guys there that my take my power away but I will be the same action fighter that I am now.
Do you worry about taking too many punches with his high-action style?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: It is a style that has done well for me and I don’t think I’ve been in trouble in any of my fights. I don’t think I’ve been in any unnecessary wars yet. I like to give the fans a good show and I do the best that I can, but if there comes a time that I have to do something else to win, I will.
What is the difference preparing to fight in the Garden compare to Puerto Rico, if any?
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ: The fight preparation is the same. Obviously the night of the fight because all of my family can be there and all my kids can be there. We do feel that we are away. I do love fighting in Puerto Rico and having the great backing of my family and everyone involved. But I do know that it is important to go outside and get people to know me.
*******************************************
Undefeated world champions JUAN MANUEL “JuanMa” LOPEZ and YURIORKIS GAMBOA will be serving hard shots of tropical punch when they defend their titles, in separate fights, headlining “Island Warriors: Latin Fury 12,” Saturday, October 10, broadcast Live on Pay-Per-View from the WaMu Theater in the “Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden. Lopez will be defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight title against top contender and Tanzania native ROGERS MTAGWA. Gamboa will be defending his World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight belt against Panamanian strongman WHYBER GARCIA. The televised portion of this boxing extravaganza will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT with two exciting 10-round bouts – undefeated Top-10 heavyweight contender ODLANIER SOLIS of Cuba against two-time world title challenger FRES OQUENDO of Puerto Rico, and super welterweight contenders PAWEL WOLAK of Poland against CARLOS NASCIMENTO of Brazil. These eight sluggers boast a combined record of 182-25-2 (132 KOs), a winning percentage of 87% and a victory by knockout ratio of 73%.
Top-10 middleweight contender and New York fan favorite IRELAND’S JOHN DUDDY will also be featured, on the non-televised undercard in a 10-round middleweight bout.
Media Credential Pickup – will take place on Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM, at the entrance to the WaMu Theater (Glass Doors in front of box office). On Saturday, 4:30 – 9:00 PM, media credential pick-up will be located at the “Glass Doors” at the corner of 33rd St. & 8th Ave.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Arena Boxing U.S. and PR Best Boxing, Remaining Tickets, priced at $250, $150, $75, and $50, can be purchased at the Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.thegarden.com. The “Island Warriors: Latin Fury 12” pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $39.95. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. For fight week updates, log on to www.toprank.com.
ESPN News- 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
- Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey practice civility at news conference March 10, 2010Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey practice civility at news conference. […]Calvin Watkins
- Manny Pacquiao plans to entertain at post-fight party March 10, 2010Manny Pacquiao has big plans for Saturday night -- after his fight against Joshua Clottey. […]Associated Press
- Muhammad Ali visits San Francisco Giants' clubhouse March 9, 2010Muhammad Ali showed up in the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse as part of a campaign for his charity. […]Associated Press
- Judge dismisses felony coercion charge in battery case against Roger Mayweather March 9, 2010A court clerk says a judge dismissed a felony coercion charge against boxing trainer Roger Mayweather, who faces trial June 1 on allegations that he beat and choked a female boxer at a Las Vegas apartment he owned. […]Associated Press
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. associate faces charges in Vegas shooting March 9, 2010Police say an associate of boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been arrested on attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges in an August shooting outside a Las Vegas skating rink. […]Associated Press
- Promoter Bob Arum expects sellout for Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium March 9, 2010Promoter Bob Arum said he expects a sellout for the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium. […]Calvin Watkins
- Britain's Amir Khan to defend WBA light welterweight title against American Paulie Malignaggi March 9, 2010Amir Khan of Britain will defend his WBA light-welterweight title against American challenger Paulie Malignaggi on May 15 at New York's Madison Square Garden. […]Associated Press
- Devon Alexander stops Juan Urango to unify WBC, IBF light welterweight titles March 9, 2010Devon Alexander knocked out Juan Urango with a right uppercut at 1:12 of the seventh round to unify the WBC and IBF light welterweight titles on Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena. […]Associated Press
- Vitali Klitschko to fight Albert Sosnowski in WBC heavyweight title defense March 9, 2010Vitali Klitschko will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Polish-born fighter Albert Sosnowski on May 29. […]Dan Rafael
- Junior welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. signs with HBO March 12, 2010
