Tag Archives: News
In Rusty’s Corner
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.
Continue reading In Rusty’s Corner
Ward wins a big one!
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.
In Rusty’s Corner
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 7th, 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.
Two undefeated champions, Berto and Lopez, lose their belt and their zero!
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.
Continue reading Two undefeated champions, Berto and Lopez, lose their belt and their zero!
Morales surprises!
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.
Continue reading Morales surprises!
Gil Clancy / R.I.P.
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
Gamboa Impressive!
By Tom Donelson
(member of the Boxing Writers Association, International Boxing Reseach Organization and contributes to numerous boxing publications)
ESPN featured on Friday night, Cuban prospects night and HBO on Saturday night featured Cuban Yuriokis Gamboa defending his WBA featherweight against Jorge Solis. It could be said that of all of the Cuban fighters fighting today, Gamboa may be the best.
In the opening bout, upcoming star Miguel Angel Garcia fought Matt Remillard in a battle between undefeated fighters. In the first round, Remillard tried to get inside but halfway through the round, Garcia unleashed a battery of punches before the fight settled down with Remillard continued to move forward but his offense was ineffectual. Garcia battery of punches showed the difference between the two fighters for Remillard punches lacked pop whereas Garcia punches went through Remillard defenses.
In the second round, Garcia moved around the ring while nailing Remillard with hard shots whereas Remillard did managed to connect on a couple of hooks to the body while pursuing. At the end of the round, Remillard did manage to nail Garcia with a right hand.
In Rusty’s Corner
Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer
Don’t forget the annual induction of the greats at the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 9 -12, in Canastota NY.
Among those expected to be on hand are Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Kostya Tszyu, referee Joe Cortez and others.
For event information check out www. Ibhof.com or call directly to (315) 797-7095.***
A couple of interesting and probably very exciting fights upcoming this weekend (March 12).
First in Las Vegas, where the crowd pleasing Ricardo Mayorga takes on always tough contender Miguel Cotto, to be seen on Showtime PPV, for the WBA super middleweight title.
Cotto, 30, is a solid fighter who cuts, and at times shows a china chin, has only lost two of his 37 bouts to Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao. A good tandem to lose to, if a loss is in the cards.
Cotto stands 5’7” and has a 67 inch reach.
Continue reading In Rusty’s Corner