David Martinez Boxing

By Tom Donelson

( Member of Boxing Writers Association and International Boxing Research Organization )

In their last bout Bernard Hopkins fought Jean Pascal to a draw or maybe we should say Pascal fought Hopkins to a draw.  Hopkins lost his shot at a title when he hit the canvas twice against Pascal in the first three rounds and went into the final nine rounds; five points down on the judges’ scorecard.  The wily veteran Hopkins found a way to turn the fight around and Pascal helped by not putting on the afterburner and allowed Hopkins to set the pace.

Hopkins wanted to become the oldest man to win a title and at 46, he still had the skills but he faced a younger opponent but the real issue was did he face a hungrier opponent? ESPN Teddy Atlas concluded that this was Pascal fight to lose; that at 26, he could do more things and push the issue.  Pascal did not do that in the last fight despite having Hopkins in trouble over the opening three rounds.  The key to the fight would be if Pascal would force Hopkins to fight at a more intense level, round after round.  With the advantage of hand speed and power, he held the upper hand.  Hopkins advantage laid in his ability to out think and take advantage of Pascal’s lapses.

Before the main event, Chad Dawson fought Adrian Diaconu an important bout in the light heavyweight division as both men have been victim of Jean Pascal.   Dawson, now trained by Emanuel Steward, looked to get a shot at the winner of the Hopkins-Pascal fight and be back at top of the light heavyweight division.

In the first round, Dawson used his jab to keep distance and pick his shots as Diaconu did very little throughout the round.  Dawson looked relaxed in the second round as his jab maintained the distance and this allowed Dawson to strike combinations while Diaconu had to lunge with his power shots but of no avail.

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Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer
Just another reminder: That the annual induction of the boxing greats will be held at the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 9 -12, in Canastota NY.

Among those expected to be inducted are Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Kostya Tszyu, referee Joe Cortez and a few others.

For event information check out www. Ibhof.com or call directly to (315) 797-7095.***

I wasn’t going to comment on this, but enough people have expressed an interest, so let’s take a close look at what might just be one of the more interesting fights of the year.

This weekend in Montreal, Jean Pascal takes on the ageless Bernard Hopkins in a rematch of a ‘majority draw’ held last Dec. 18, at the same venue, the Bell Center.

Many people think that the draw was a ‘hometown’ affair, with Pascal, a native of Haiti living there.

The fact remains that Hopkins, at age 46, is not the same fighter he once was. No question he can still think on his feet with the best of them, but he has been slowing down in recent times.
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By Tom Donelson

( Member of Boxing Writers Association and International Boxing Research Organization )

Arthur Abraham had lost two fights in a row during the Super Six tournament and faced the new favorite Andre Ward as a heavy underdog but Abraham has one thing in his favor; the big punch.  For Ward, this was not an easy bout against one of the most rugged fighters in the world.

Abraham began the first round moving forward with the idea of pushing the action as he moved behind a peek-a-boo; making it difficult for Ward to jab effectively against Abraham. Halfway through the second round, Ward landed his best combination of the fight at that point but it did little to sway Abraham from moving forward and both fighters started to bend some of the rules as the fight started to get rough.  Both fighters exchanged jabs throughout the third round in a fight that moved quickly with Abraham landing some of the more powerful shots over the last minute of the round.  Known as a slow starter, Abraham forced the action through the first three rounds.

Fourth round was Ward best of first four rounds as he dominated most of the round as he threw most of punches even though Abraham attempted to steal the round with a rally that allowed Ward to counter.  The fifth and the sixth round repeated the fourth round as Abraham allowed Ward to get off and throw punches first; there were one occasion that Ward hurt Abraham for the first time of the fight.    At the halfway mark, Abraham looked exhausted, an unusual occasion since Abraham usually get better as the fight moved forward.  Ward started to take the fight to Abraham who seemed content to be a punching bag while occasionally throwing wild punches but he could never pull trigger or maneuver Ward in a position to unleash his powerful punches.   With a minute left in the tenth round, Ward switched to southpaw and continued to pound Abraham, who simply looked confused.  Between the tenth and eleventh round, Abraham’s corner exhorted their fighter “go for it, you can do it.”   In the opening of the eleventh round, Abraham landed a solid counter for one of his best punch but Ward continued to box around the tough Armenian born German fighter.

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By Tom Donelson
(Member of the Boxing Writers Association and International Boxing Research Organization)

Manny Pacquiao faced the wily veteran Shane Mosley, who was hoping to find the fountain of youth for one more fight, one more shot at glory.  Before the main event, there were three important bouts with future implications.

Undefeated Mike Alvarado faced Ray Nath and over the first three rounds, Alvarado simply dominated the fight as he started to connect on solid rights without much response.  After three rounds of being beaten, Ray Nath simply did not come out for the fourth round and Alvarado won his 30th straight.

Kelly Pavlik in his comeback fight as a Super Middleweight faced a tough competitor in the undefeated Alfonso Lopez.  The first two rounds saw a rusty Pavlik as Lopez managed to outbox the former Middleweight champion but in the third round, Pavlik looked sharper with his punches and even landed a solid right that shook Lopez.

In the fourth round, Lopez got inside of Pavlik to score effectively but in the process, an accidental head butt opened up a cut over Pavlik right eyes.  Pavlik managed to connect with some rights in close quarters that may have allowed him to win the round. Lopez began the fifth round by attacking but by the middle of the round, Pavlik power started to back Lopez up.  Lopez was breathing heavily at the end of round as Pavlik landed the best punch of the round with a left hook in the middle of the round.

Pavlik dominated the sixth with solid body shots, making Lopez wince but the seventh round was a close affair as both men scored with solid shots; Lopez with a solid combination whereas Pavlik scored with solid left hook near the end of the round for his best shots.   The eighth round repeated the sixth round as Pavlik landed hard shots after shots as Lopez looked like he was fading.

There are moments that a fighter must make a stand or accept defeat; Lopez decided to go toe to toe with Pavlik in order to make something happen.  Lopez saw the fight slipping away and both fighters gave as they took as punches flew from both fighters.  The tenth round was no difference as Lopez began with combinations but Pavlik buckled Lopez with a solid left hook but Lopez found a way to respond with combination.  Pavlik countered back with a right hand that stunned Lopez but it did not deter Lopez as both fighters went at each other with last charge.

Pavlik won a majority decision with two of the judges gave him 98-92 and 99-91 scores with another judge scoring the fight even.  Pavlik made his comeback against a worthy opponent as he won a tough grinding decision. This gives the Super Middleweight yet another star in one of boxing most talented division!
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Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

Just a reminder: The annual induction of the greats at the International Boxing Hall of Fame will be on June 9 -12, in Canastota NY.

Among those expected to be inducted are Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Kostya Tszyu, referee Joe Cortez and a few others.

For event information check out www. Ibhof.com or call directly to (315) 797-7095.***

Well the time has come to take a close look at what might just be one of the most exciting fights of the year.

At the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 7^th, Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao takes on tough “Sugar” Shane Mosley.

At first glance the odds seem a bit too high at 5-1. Mosley, who doesn’t have the hand and foot speed he once did, can still punch and as a natural welterweight, does have the size advantage over Pac Man.

Mosley, 46-6-1 (39) also lost to Floyd Mayweather, who doesn’t seem to have the stones to face the flamboyant Philippine.

At 39, this could be the last big payday for Mosley, but if he wins, all bets are off. Shane does have a height and reach advantage over Pacquiao, and has shown a solid chin as well.

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It is that time again when it’s simply my pleasure to say thank you to some very special people that help contribute to the continuing success of this website.

In not any particular order they are: John Boitnott (producer), Bob Quackenbush (photo editing and proof reading), Kathy Kraft (proof reader), Ray Luna (photos), Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner), Jim Amato (senior boxing writer), Tom Donelson (renowned boxing writer), and Rick Farris (contributing boxing features).

All of my t-shirt girls have certainly added a beautiful touch, posing while wearing my product, and they are: Suzie (Dec 2007/ Feb 2008), Jania (April 2008), Maryuri (May 2008), Xochitl (July (2008), Natalie (Aug 2008), Julie (Sept (2008), Krista (Nov 2008), Morgan (Dec 2008), Adriana (Jan (2009) Marteena (Mar 2009), Nina (May 2009), Adria (July 2009), Beverly (Aug 2009), Lexy (Sept 2009), Athena (Oct 2009), Briana (Dec 2009), Christina (Jan 2010), Linda (Feb 2010), Gordy (Apr 2010), Christine (May 2010), Kelly (Aug 2010), Jessica (Oct 2010), Kelly & Christine (Dec 2010), and Stacy (Mar 2011).

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By Tom Donelson
(Member of the Boxing Writers Association, International Boxing Research Organization and contributes to numerous boxing publications)

Paul McCloskey challenged Amir Khan for Khan’s version of the junior Welterweight title. For Khan, a victory meant a big dollar fight with Timothy Bradley and who knows from there? Khan decided to take the action to McCloskey and while neither fighter appeared to hurt each other, Khan’s activity won the first round as he threw more punches and connected on more.

Khan led with the right twice in the first minute of the second round but did little damage but McCloskey played a waiting game as if looking for the right moment to strike back or was it that he was simply unable to solve Khan’s hand speed?  Khan started to throw more effective combinations at the end of the round but still did not hit McCloskey with solid shots.

By the end of the fourth round, McCloskey was fighting defensively and soaked up the harder punches of Khan but this strategy was hardly winning rounds.    Halfway through the sixth round, Khan stunned McCloskey with a combination and an accidental head butt open up a cut over McCloskey left eye.  The fight went to the scorecard and this resulted in an easy decision for Amir Khan as he won every round.

Andre Berto defended his version of the Welterweight against Victor Ortiz, a talented fighter who had a disappointing loss to Marco Maidana and a majority draw against Lamont Peterson, fights that had many questioning his heart.
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An exhibition by Desiree D’Alessandro in collaboration with Raymond Douglas

April 18th through April 22nd, 2011

Closing Reception and Exhibition Bout Friday April 22nd, 2011 from 5-7pm

in Old Gym Gallery 479 on UCSB campus

Artists Desiree D’Alessandro and Raymond Douglas take a unique look at the local student body of Isla Vista, focusing specifically on recreational and competition boxers.

The exhibition will not only depict student boxers utilizing traditional artistic approaches, but also allows the physical bodies engaged in athleticism first-hand be the medium on exhibit in an art context. This innovative and intriguing displacement facilitates dialogue across the boundaries of art and athleticism in a generative and productive new arena.

The venue that hosts the culmination of these efforts is a site of particular interest. UC Santa Barbara’s Gallery 479 is a site imbued with athletic history that still features rustic floors dating from when the space was a recreation center prior to 1949.The interplay of activating the current gallery and historical use of the space is invigorating for the context of holding an athletic-themed art exhibition, complete with alternative hours where the gallery is utilized as a training facility and a closing reception exhibition bout.

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By Tom Donelson
(Memeber of the Boxing Writers Association, International Boxing Research Organization and contributes to numerous boxing publications)

Erik Morales was a Hall of Fame fighter but those days were long past and what he had left was the question as he faced the tough Marcos Maidana in a night called Action Heroes.

In the first round, the big fears about Morales looked justified as Maidana jabbed Morales and forced Morales to the rope.  Morales managed to connect with a left hook but whatever quickness he had seemed to disappeared and his eyes started to swell from Maidana punches.  Maidana started to connect when he trapped Morales on the rope.

Morales tried to keep his distance from Maidana but he was unable to keep Maidana left from connecting.  Toward the end of the second round and after being dominated, Morales finally nailed Maidana with a right and left that stopped Maidana briefly while fans went wild.

Morales came out of the third round popping his jab but received a Maidana right in return but he did managed a left right combination.  Throughout the round, Morales managed to land some good combinations but his right eye started to shut.

Maidana tried to trap Morales on the rope in the fourth but Morales managed to escape and seems to be able to get an offense going while blocking some of Maidana incoming bombs and referee warns Maidana bout head butting so a little desperation on the part of Maidana?

Maidana attacked Morales hard at the opening of the fifth round, but Morales counters the hard charging Maidana and gets the better of the exchanges.  In one exchange, Maidana lands a right but Morales connects with his own right followed by another right and then a left hook to Maidana chin.  Morales had his best right round of the night he consistently nailed Maidana with left hooks and right uppercuts.
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Last week, March 31, 2011, a true icon in boxing passed away: Manager / Trainer / Matchmaker / TV Analyst, Gil Clancy. He was 88.

I will always remember Gil to be a gentle and most knowledgeable man in a sport he loved so dearly.

During his career he worked with Ralph “Tiger” Jones, Rodrigo Valdes, Juan La Porte, Johnny Persol, Jorge Ahumada, Howard Weston, Tom Bethea, Jerry Quarry, Gerry Cooney, Oscar De La Hoya, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ken Norton and Emile Griffith; whom he guided to the heights of the Welterweight and Middleweight Championships.

May his soul rest in peace in heaven with God!

With my deepest sympathy,
David Martinez / Boxing Historian