David Martinez Boxing

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

In life we have friends; I have many, and two that ceratinly stand out for their talents are Johnny Ortiz and Anthony Prieto.

Johnny Ortiz – I am delighted to announce that a new revised edition of his publication “MY LIFE AMONG THE ICONS” has been recently released for purchase. I have known Johnny for the past twenty years and he has truly emerged as one of my best friends, and I consider him to be one of the most knowledable boxing authorities that I have ever met. I hope that you will join me to support the publication of his book, which is a fascinating memoir of a raconteur whose life intersected with the giants of sports and the glamour of Hollywood. To purchase your copy, you may order online by contacting the publisher at: authorhouse.com or by calling 1-800-839-8640

Anthony Prieto – I am grateful for a friend who is very talented in singing and artistic drawing, and so devoted in working as a volunteer with the California Condor Recovery Team. I have known Anthony for most of my adult life and we first met because our mutual love for boxing. I attend many of the concert events in which he performs, as I truly enjoy his flavor of Latin music. There are two CDs currently available: “Anthony Prieto by Anthony Prieto” and “Life Love and Desire / Anthony Prieto.” To purchase these CDs, you can go to the following websites: lacimamusic.com, cdbaby.com, or amazon.com.

If for any reason you want to contact Johnny or Anthony directly, I can accomodate this if you would so kindly go through me to arrange it, as I respect their privacy. In knowing both, they would honor any request you might desire of them.

Thank you for your support for my two friends; I respect both for their talents and I consider myself blessed to have them as my friends!

( a monthly feature from David Martinez Boxing )

1) On July 4, 1912 in Vernon, California, Joe Rivers lost his bid for the lightweight title vs. Ad Wolgast when the bout ended in one of the most controversial finishes in boxing history … the outcome was ?
answer is ~ double knockout

2) When Larry Holmes won the WBC heavyweight championship (vs. Ken Norton) on June 9, 1978 … his manager and trainer was ?
answer is ~ Richie Giachetti

3) What former heavyweight champion was the referee for the lightweight title fight between Joe Gans vs. George Memsic on September 27, 1907 ?
answer is ~ James J. Jeffries

Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

As I prepare for my annual holiday vacation, I want to make sure that I reach each and everyone who reads this column (and even those who do not), the very best wishes for the holiday season.

Both ShowTime and HBO have a nice early Christmas present on tap for boxing fans.

Let’s take a close look at two fights which will be held at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, on December 11.). The double main-event figures to have more action than most of the fight cards you’ve seen this year. What would you expect from some tough bantamweights?

In the first bout, hard hitting Vic Darchinyan, 34, from Australia, takes on undefeated 25-year-old, Mexican Abner Mares. This bout is going to be a classic boxer versus slugger match, with Mares, 20-0-1 (13, much preferring to box and Darchinyan, 35-2-1 (27), always ready, willing and able to tee off.

Except for Darchinyan’s power, this bout really offers little to choose from. Darchinyan is a southpaw, which may create problems for Mares, who does have a 3 ½” reach advantage.

I make it a point to pick a winner, and so I’ll give a slight edge to Mares to take a hard-fought decision in a fight that will see a lot of blood fly.

The other bout, for the IBF bantamweight title features champion Yohhny Perez, a tough 31-year old Colombian taking on former IBF champ Joseph Agbeko, 22, from Ghana.

Perez, 31, is a talented boxer with a mark of 20-0-1 with 14 knockouts, while Agbeko, 27-2 (22), wants his title back.

Perez, seems to have a bit of a problem with his defense, so my gut feeling is that the African fighter will take a close decision in a very tough toe-to-toe brawl.

Both fights are scheduled to be shown on ShowTime.

On HBO, a couple of light welters compete for the WBA crown, from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

These two fighters are better know in Europe than in America as they have seen most of their action out of the USA.

Amir Khan 23-1 with 17 knockouts from the U.K., takes on Marcos Madana 29-1 (17) for the WBA light welterweight title.

On paper this bout also appears to be a toss-up. Madana 29, from Argentina, having more ring experience, but Khan a slight edge up in opponents talent as well as punching power.
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I really like knowing David Martinez. Of course there’s his endless boxing knowledge – his ability to analyze a fight – even as it’s happening. I respect his advice big time.

One of the best things he does is something that only happens at Halloween. He will dress up like a masked wrestler. So let me share with you now a photo of this years 2010 edition of him at a party posing with young lady – Kim. He will always accommodate others for a picture and let me say that it’s my absolute pleasure to serve as his producer since this website started back in July 2007 – thank you David!

be sure to stay posted to dmboxing.com every month for your complete boxing schedule

FRIDAY – August 6, 2010 (ESPN2)
from: Chicago, Illinois
James De La Rosa vs. Michael Rosales (Welterweights)
Patrick Lopez vs. Prenice Brewer (Junior Welterweights)
Mike Mollo vs. Franklin Lawrence (Heavyweights)

FRIDAY – August 6, 2010 (Showtime)
from: Hinckley, Minnesota
Chris Avalos vs. Christopher Martin (Bantamweights)
Lateef Kayode vs. Alfredo Escalera, Jr (Cruiserweights)

SATURDAY – August 7, 2010 (HBO)
from: St. Louis, Missouri
Devon Alexander vs. Andriy Kotelnik (WBC / IBF Junior Welterweight Championship)
Tavoris Cloud vs. Glen Johnson (IBF Light Heayweight Championship)

SATURDAY – August 7, 2010 (Fox Sports)
from: Jalisco, Mexico
Gennady Golovkin vs. Milton Nunez (Middleweights)
Roman Gonzalez vs. Manuel Vargas (Junior Flyweights)
Julio Julio Emilio vs. Zapir Rasulov (Welterweights)
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Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer

Allow me to thank my many friends in boxing for their calls, cards and visits during my recent illness….I’ll be as good as new as soon as the good Lord allows science to discover how to make a complete skeletal transplant. Seriously, the prayers mean a lot to this old scribe.

In the upcoming fight department, July 31, Saturday, should be a hum-dinger at Mandalay Bay on Pay-Per-View.

The again veteran counter puncher Juan Manuel Marquez faces a rematch with Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz for the WBO/WBA lightweight title. This fight is a rematch of a recent Houston, where Marquez stopped Diaz late.

Diaz, at age 26, (35-3, (17), is ten years younger than Marquez and has a big reach advantage.

Marquez, 50-5-1 (37), remains the best counter-puncher in the business as he proved when he stopped Diaz in his Texas hometown.

Not only does Marquez boast more fights, but far better competition, but when you deal with age, it doesn’t always mean as much.

A pick here looks easy, as Diaz’ only three losses came in his last six fights, while Marquez and time keeps marching on. The logic here is that if Diaz can’t beat Marquez at home, why think he would do better in far more neutral Las Vegas?
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1) Who served as a sparing partner for Sugar Ray Leonard in preparation for his 1978 bout with Floyd Mayweather, Sr. and who he would fight later in his career?
answer is – Thomas Hearns
 
2) In 1971, top welterweight contender Armando Muniz briefly taught at Cal State Los Angeles … what subject ?
answer is – Hispanic Studies
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David Martinez and Bob Foster
October 1996

By Jim Amato / Senior Boxing Writer
 
Not too long ago one of my favorite writers, Ted Sares asked me if I could come up with some bouts as he described them as “closet classics”. I came up with a few for Ted. Here recently I was making a tape for a friend. One of the bouts was the 1969 light heavyweight title fight between Bob Foster and Andy Kendall. I have a mint copy of this fight and what a war it was while it lasted.

This was Foster at the peak of his great career. What a fighter he was. Most people remember his devastating power but what they tend to forget is that Bob had a terrific jab. He jabbed on even terms with Muhammad Ali when they met. He even cut the “Greatest”.

Andy Kendall was no slouch. He was a rough and rugged customer who met Don Fullmer, Bobo Olson, Eddie Cotton, Roger Rouse and Eddie “Bossman” Jones on his way to this title shot. The ABC broadcast had Howard Cosell and the late Willie Pep at ringside calling the action.
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Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer  

The Los Angeles based World Boxing Hall of Fame event will be held on November 19, at the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Among the new honorees expected to attend are Julio Casar Chavez, Mike Tyson, Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Bennie Briscoe. In the expanded category, Graham Houston, Jimmy Montoya and Joe Goossen get their well-earned rewards as well.*** 

In the who gives a damn department, the aforementioned Mike Tyson may forego his Hall of Fame award to fight again, this time against Evander Holyfield. 

Anyone who buys this match between someone I thought knew enough to retire and Holyfield who clearly does not, is loonier than this writer. Tyson can’t fight anymore and Holyfield should have retired a long time ago. How many ways can you spell BORING? Oh well, as P.T. Barnum once said, ‘there’s a sucker born every minute’. 

The 100th anniversary of the Jack Johnson – Jim Jeffries fight will be celebrated in Reno, NV. from July 1-4. Among some of the names expected to be on hand are George Foreman and Ray ‘Boom Boom Mancini’. For more information please call the Grand Sierra Hotel in Reno. Also, my friend Boxing Historian David Martinez will have a feature article on this fight next week on his website www.dmboxing.com.

Hard to figure who will win this weekends middleweight tiff between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and John Duddy. 
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