Not yet as pretty as Floyd, Andre Ward emerges as a top super middlweight

Ward and Froch in the ring

“Did you watch the Super Six final this weekend?” inquired Dave the Barber as soon as I walked in his fine barbershop on San Fernando Road:” That boy from Oakland, he’s got skills. He said that he watched a lot of Mayweather fights on tape to prepare for the Britt.What do you think he learned from Floyd?”

 

” Couldn’t you tell,” cried out Downtown Ronnie Brown:” It was a left hook. I just loved the way he bullied Froch on the inside than sidestepped and fired a left hook time after time. It was a thing of beauty. The Cobra never saw it coming and he was struck repeatedly. I am surprised he never went down. That English boy has a chin made out of rock. Yes, I have to say that Ward is the man, but he ain’t no Floyd. In my humble opinion Ward is slick ,defensively fast and rough on the inside, but his style of fighting is ugly. On the other hand, every time Floyd throws a punch in the ring it’s like a Picasso painting a picture; perfect form, perfect timing and just the right combination of speed and power. If you want to learn how to box the right way you should watch my boy Floyd Mayweather. He does everything right.”

 

” Would you forget your boy, Floyd for a moment. We are talking about Ward. You have to pay attention to appreciate what that boy does in the ring. He is only twenty seven, but he fights like a veteran, kind of reminds me of Hopkins. First thing he did was to neutralize his adversary’s best weapon, a jab.They teach you that in ” The art of war”. Then he dialed in his own fast jab and a double jab to get inside. Once he got inside, he knew what to do as well. He made it rough in there. And what about that ref, Smoger, god bless his soul; he just allowed them boys to fight. Froch looked lost and frustrated in there . He was loosing the battle on both fronts, inside and outside. He had a look of a man who knew he was fighting a loosing battle.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/not-yet-as-pretty-as-floyd-andre-ward-emerges-as-a-top-super-middlweight

 

Is Floyd Mayweather tawdry?

Photo by Ray Flores

In no particular rush to go to work I decided to visit Dave’s barbershop early Friday morning. It felt like home. Downtown Ronnie Brown was humming the blues.

 

“Well I am a prizefighter baby,

Cause I use my fists to make a living

I’ve lost all of my pride baby

Cause I am taking what they are giving…”

 

“Which one of you boys can smell boxing talk a mile away?” inquired Dave the Barber as he pointed for me to sit at his chair:” Three days in a row we’ve been fighting about politics and no sign of either one of you two. As soon as we start talking boxing here you are.”

 

“We bring bagels with cream cheese instead of piece pipe,” smiled Big Steve following me into the barbershop.

 

“You are right on time,” confirmed Dave the Barber:” The topic of the day is Pretty Boy Floyd. Do you think that boy is tawdry?”

 

“Tawdry! What the hell is tawdry,” roared Big Steve:” I didn’t know I had to go to college to join this intellectual conversation.”

 

“Why don’t you tell him what I mean Ronnie,” said Dave the Barber:” You are the smart one here or are you just a smart ass?”

 

“Shut up you old fool,” cut in Al the Barber:” I haven’t heard a soul use that word in thirty years. If I see a goat then that is precisely what I’m gonna call it: a goat. So why don’t we just call Pretty Boy Floyd a show off, because that is exactly what he is. No point in discussing it. The boy is a show off, burning hundred dollar bills on TV. Showing off his gaudy house to the troops His mama ought to spank him and make him apologize to all the fine people of this country who are struggling to put food on their dinner table.”

 http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/is-floyd-mayweather-tawdry

 

Andre Ward and Carl Froch, save the best for last

Photo by Tom Casino

“Final big fight of this year this Saturday, Froch vs. Ward, save the best for last,” announced Big Steve as he joined me at Porto’s Bakery on Brand Boulevard for lunch:” For my taste, I really like super middleweights, because they hit as hard as heavyweights and move as fast as lightweights, but somehow these guys don’t enjoy the same amount of popularity as welterweights. It’s a sweet science paradox for sure.  But tell me, do you think this tournament took too long ?”

 

Two years in the making, the first of its kind super middleweight tournament called Super Six World Boxing Classic is about to climax this Saturday inAtlantic City. Two champions, American, Andre Ward and British, Carl Froch advanced to the finals and will decide who the best super middleweight in the world is when they face each other in a twelve rounds prize fight which will be televised live by Showtime.

 

FormerUSOlympic gold medalist fromOakland,California, Andre Ward was considered too green when the tournament began in 2009. Ward came of age as a fighter as the Super Six progressed registering a break out, dominating, opening performance against then favorite, Mikkel Kessler. Two years of tough fights and solid wins, Ward comes into the final as a four two one favorite against WBC super middleweight champion, Carl Froch.

 

“A lot of people keep talking to me about being the favorite. We’re not the favorite, “said Ward (24-0,13KO’S) during recent press conference inNew York:” I still have that chip on my shoulder, but that’s how we prepare. For some reason, there seems to be questions from Froch’s camp and the media about toughness, physicality, things like that. There’s a sense that I’m looking to squeak by in this fight. You don’t squeak by fights at this level. You take them and that’s what I plan to do.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/andre-ward-and-carl-froch-save-the-best-for-last

 

Did Manny Pacquiao have a good year?

Photo by Zimbio Pictures

“Back so soon,” exclaimed Dave the Barber when he saw me enter his fine barber shop onSan Fernando Road:” We were just talking about your favorite fighter. Did Manny Pacquiao have a good year?”

 “If you want to talk money; that boy made some serious Benjamin’s this year,” interjected Downtown Ronnie Brown:” Two fights 20 mill each guaranteed, plus percentage of pay per views. He made some serious greens, I’ll tell you. No wonder he was driving around Lala land in his new shotgun grey Ferrari. And I am not even talking about all his new endorsement deals like Hewlett Packard, Nike and my personal favorite, a very cheesySanManuelCasinocommercial. An Indian chief probably gave Manny some green under the table to get that add approved. Manny likes money, green money.”

“Forget about the money,” cried out Dave the Barber: “I am talking about his fights; he dominated Mosley and beat Marquez, although some of you here strongly disagree with judge’s final decision, but somehow I don’t feel satisfied with his fistic conquests. There is something missing.”

 

“You can’t forget about the money. Money is the root of all evil,” said Al the Barber reflectively:” It seems to me that the more money these boys make the less they are willing to fight. I can still remember Oscar Mayweather fight. They broke all the records, 2.4 million buys. But the fight itself… I’ve seen better sparring sessions. It’s like they made a gentleman’s agreement not to hurt each other. Here comes Manny; 1.3 million buys with Mosley and 1.4 million buys with Marquez and a whole lot of excuses and not a whole lot of fighting.”

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/did-manny-pacquiao-have-a-good-year

 

Amir Khan’s split decision loss is no capital crime

Photo by Tim Shafer

“Did you see that fight on HBO last Saturday?” inquired Al the Barber while motioning me to get into his chair as I walked into the fine barber shop on San Fernando Road:” That was one hell of a fight. It’s too bad they robbed that British boy in our nation’s Capitol as if he was a tourist getting pick pocketed. I’ve been following the fight game since before you were born and I‘ve never heard a pug getting penalized for pushing. Who is that referee? What’s his name, Joseph Cooper? That’s why those boys won’t come over here across the ocean; they don’t want to get robbed. That, my friend, was a capital crime. They robbed that boy blind.”

 

“Blind,” exclaimed Downtown Ronnie Brown:” I think you are blind. Did you even watch that fight or were you just looking at the referee. This is no Olympics. It’s called professional prize fighting. You got to see who is doing all the damage. That local boy, Peterson was a beast; he was firing all the shots that mattered. Khan’s punches had no significance. Yes, his fists are fast, but they were doing very little damage. This ain’t no capital crime. This ain’t no crime at all. Khan insisted that he was the cleaner fighter, but this is a fight game; you don’t get extra points for fighting clean. You score points for doing damage. Forget all the penalties and a bogus knock down they gave to Amir in the first round and the local boy still won the fight no matter how you slice it.”

 

“I would have to slice it a little different,” whispered Dave the Barber as if he did not want Ronnie to hear what he had to say:” Look at the punch stats. Amir fired and landed more punches in almost every round.”

 

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/amir-khan-s-split-decision-loss-is-no-capital-crime

 

Bradley Heads Pac-Man Undercard

Photo by Chris Farina

LAS VEGAS – Timothy Bradley is a vastly talented boxer with over-the-top ring skills, but his one downfall is that he lacks a true knockout punch.
In his recent World Boxing Organization junior-welterweight title fight with Joel Casamayor, the Palm Springs native was given a technical knockout victory when Casamayor’s corner stepped onto the ring apron with one second left in the eighth round.
Up to that point, Bradley claimed every round of the scheduled 12-round event on Judge Burt Clements’, Levi Martinez’s and Adalaide Byrd’s scorecards. Casamayor had a point taken away in the fourth round for holding.
“I was a little anxious in the ring tonight, but I had a great time,” said Bradley, who connected on 40 percent of his total punches and 51 percent of his power shots. “I wish Casamayor would have fought a little more instead of holding.”
Some of Casamayor’s punches were low, and this bothered Bradley, who improved to 28-0-0 with 12 knockouts.
“I got hit with three or four low blows,” said Bradley. “He’s crafty with the left hand.”
The first four rounds were somewhat lackluster until Bradley floored Casamayor (38-6-1 with 22 KO’s) in the fifth and sixth rounds.
In other action undefeated Mike Alvarado waited until the final round to show what he was made of in a match with Breidis Prescott in their International Boxing Federation Latino junior-welterweight title bash.
The end came in the 10th round as Alvarado (32-0-0 with 23 KO’s) connected on 27 of 38 power blows, and the fight was halted with 1:07 left.
“My best rounds are always the late rounds,” said Alvarado, who held the edge in power punches landed with 43 percent to 36 percent. “I got off to a very slow start. Late in the fight Prescott (24-4-0 and 19 KO’s) got real tired and began to lean toward me. When he did that I threw an upper cut which really hurt him. I used hooks and more upper cuts to finish him off.”
“He was a dangerous fighter and it was important for me to be a boxer and not brawl with him,” said Prescott, who had a higher percentage of jabs find the mark (33 percent) than Alvarado, who located the target 25 percent. “The corner told me I was winning and to keep boxing, but he caught me at the end.”
Juan Carlos Burgos escaped with a majority decision victory over Luis Cruz in their World Boxing Council Silver and WBO Latino junior-lightweight title fight.
This was a strange and difficult bout to score, but in the end Judge C.J. Ross had it 95-95, while Duane Ford scored it 98-92, and Ricardo Ocasio had it 97-93, in favor of Burgos (28-1-0 with 19 KO’s).
The punch-stat numbers were extremely tight as Burgos landed a greater percentage of total punches (31 to 30) and jabs (27 to 26) against Cruz (19-1-0 with 15 KO’s), while the power punches were identical at 34 percent.
“I was concentrating on getting my rhythm early and to control the pace of the fight,” said Burgos. “I gained more confidence every time I would land a left hook.”

 

Pacquiao’s Underwhelming

Photo by Chris Farina

LAS VEGAS – When the final chapter in the incredible career of Manny Pacquiao is written, last Saturday night’s clash with Juan Manuel Marquez won’t be a highlight.
It will say the Filipino legend won a majority decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and that he retained his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt.
The how will need to be fully explained, because it wasn’t vintage Pacquiao, and hardly his best effort.
Maybe it was leg and foot cramps, or perhaps something else because he rarely threw multiple flurries and didn’t follow up. Both are Pacquiao trademarks.
What is certain is that the official punch stats favorved Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion from General Santos City in the Philippines.
Pacquiao landed more power shots (117-100), total punches (176-138) and jabs (59-38) than Marquez.
Additionally, Pacquiao was busier in each category throwing more power punches (274-254), total punches (578-436) and jabs (304-182).
“It was clear I won the fight,” said Pacquiao, who now owns a 15-fight winning streak. “He’s waiting for me to create action and counter-punch. He’s looking for a good shot. It’s not easy to fight Marquez, who’s a good counter-puncher.”
Five-time trainer of the year Freddie Roach admitted as much after the 12-round affair saw neither boxer hit the deck.
“Marquez fought a great fight,” he said, “but we pulled it out in the final two rounds. Marquez fought bravely. He hit him with some good shots, but not great shots.”
The final two rounds were some of the Pac-Man’s best, and it seemed he knew he’d have to impress the three judges in order to get the decision.
Robert Hoyle had Pacquiao (54-3-2 with 38 knockouts) taking the final two rounds, and scored it 114-114.
Dave Moretti, who scored it 115-113 in favor of Pacquiao, awarded the 11th round to Marquez, a three-division title holder, and the final three-minute stanza to Pacquiao.
But it was Glenn Trowbridge’s 116-112 read by ring announcer Michael Buffer that stunned the 16,368 fans and sent the vast majority booing. Trowbridge gave the 11th round to Pacquiao and the 12th to Marquez.
These two great warriors have fought 36 rounds, with the first bout in May of 2004 at 125 pounds ruled a draw, and the battle in March of 2008 at 130 pounds, result in a split decision for Pacquiao.
“I’m happy about my performance,” said Marquez, who has a 53-6-1 mark with 39 knockouts. “I don’t know what I need to do to change the mind’s of the judges.”
Afterward, Marquez said he believed he prevailed. “Everybody knows what happened,” he said. “I don’t know what I need to do. The people were rooting for me. I won in the ring and with the fans.”
Pacquiao was never hurt, and neither was Marquez, who continued to find the target with his right.
“He has Manny’s number,” said Roach. “When Manny was moving to his left that’s when Marquez landed the right hand.”
At the post-fight press conference there was talk by Top Rank President Bob Arum that Pacquiao/Marquez IV could be in the works for next May.
“I’m not a judge and I’m Manny’s promoter, so I might be a little biased,” he said, “but I thought he won the fight. But it was close.”
It sure was.

 

I would die for Manny Pacquiao – Freddie Roach

By Chris Farina

 

 

 

Don’t ever fall in love with a fighter is something you hear sweet science veterans say from time to time. There is a lot of wisdom in that old adage which is based on experience and countless broken hearts. However, five time recipient of the Trainer of the Year award, Freddie Roach did  not get that memo in his boxing booklet.

 

“Everything I do is to his benefit to win the fight and he knows that and I am behind him one hundred percent,” said Roach about his star student, Manny Pacquiao during the final episode of HBO’s 24/7:”I would die for Manny Pacquiao.” That is something I could only say about my son.

 

Manny stumbled into Freddie’s gym about ten years ago to get a work out. They both knew it was a match made in heaven after one round of working mitts. A month later Manny Pacquiao was introduced to American fight fans on national television in a title fight with African super bantamweight champion, Lehnohonolo Ledwaba. What caught my eye in that massacre was speed and explosiveness of a wild swinging offensive machine, they called Pacman. Little did I know that ten years later Manny Pacquiao would be on the very top of the boxing universe. Most experts credit Freddie Roach for developing Pacquiao into a complete fighter he is today.  Just as humble as his charge, former fighter turned coach, Roach believes that when the student is ready the teacher appears.

 

“Manny Pacquiao will go down as one of the best ever and they will call me the best coach because I had the opportunity to work with him,” said Roach,52 ;”But believe me if he didn’t have the talent I wouldn’t be much.”

So during their ten year marriage of sorts, Pacquiao has only lost once, over six years ago to Erik Morales. That’s when Freddie Roach decided to develop Pacquiao’s right hand. Manny has avenged that loss with two brutal knock out victories over Erik Morales and has been destroying a list of Hall of Fame fighters ever since. Today Manny will get to settle the score with the man who has given him the most trouble, Juan Manuel Marquez. They both weighed in under the contracted 144 pounds limit yesterday for their long awaited showdown inLas Vegas.

 

“Somewhere in the world there is a fighter better than yours,” said Marquez’s trainer, Nacho Beristain, who believes he trains that fighter.

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/i-would-die-for-manny-pacquiao-freddie-roach

 

Whatever testing they want me to do, I will do it – Marquez

Photo by Chris Farina

Media converged on the news that Marquez’s newly recruited strength and conditioning coach , Angel Hernandez is a convicted steroids dealer and a government informant as if an army of ants attacked a piece of rotten fruit on the ground. Less than two weeks away from long time in the making finale of a historic trilogy between Marquez and Pacquaio, the news with a potential to overshadow  the fight itself, hit the World Wide Web with a speed of lightening.

 

“I think it would behoove all the press to stop dealing in generalities,” said Hall of Fame promoter, Bob Arum addressing the issue yesterday during International media conference call:” First of all, the way I run an operation, the fighter can hire anybody he wants to be a trainer. It’s up to the fighter. Secondly, there was a period of time where people like Victor Conte and like this guy Herrera or Hernandez dealt in steroids with some major athletes, but that’s old, old news in this sense. Most of the intelligent conditioners like Conte, if you read what he is saying when he was handling Donaire and this guy who is now with Marquez know that you can achieve all of the benefits that you used to achieve with steroids with natural supplements without any risk of illegalities and without any dangers that steroids cause. So, the idea that Conte or this guy would be dealing in steroids with anybody, to me makes no sense, because they have been through the legal system in the United States. Conte was in jail. This guy testified and got a suspended sentence and the last thing they will do would be to deal in illegal substances. You don’t have to do that any more. Wake up and see what these conditioners are saying. The steroid problem is fading into the past.”

 

What about Juan Manuel Marquez? The Aztec warrior, a veteran of countless memorable ring wars, including the two with Pacquaio, has earned the adulation boxing of fans with his willingness to leave his life inside the squared circle each and every time. Would this new development put a stain on his otherwise stellar, future hall of fame career?

http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/whatever-testing-they-want-me-to-do-i-will-do-it-marquez

 

Interviewing Manny Pacquiao

Photo by Anna Dragost

Manny doesn’t need media, but boxing media needs Manny Pacquiao. Case in point, there is a whole portal on a World Wide Web called Pacland that is dedicated to seek out and post stories about Manny. However, humble superstar always makes it a point to thank the reporters during every press conference he attends.

 

Still, there are challenges when it comes to interviewing Manny Pacquiao. Aside from logistical difficulties, child like icon does not give you much material. Most of us boxing scribes who have been covering him for a while, just about know what he is going to say. It goes something like this- I have to train very very hard so that I can give a good show for my fans. I fight for my country and I want to make sure people are happy- and after the fight- It’s nothing personal. I am just doing my job. Yet, dedicated reporters, myself included, relish every chance we get to see pound for pound king of sweet science and yet so much has been written about larger than life phenom from Philippines.

So what is it? Is Manny just too nice of a guy who doesn’t want to offend anybody? Or is it the English language barrier? Or maybe he just doesn’t feel comfortable sharing with reporters? I decided to ask a man who would know, an author of recently published best seller,” Pacman: Behind the Scenes with Manny Pacquiao–the Greatest Pound-for-Pound Fighter in the World” Gary Andrew Poole. American journalist who resides in Los Angeles, Mr. Poole spent considerable amount of time with boxing’s brightest star, both in Philippines and in United States. Even though a non fiction, the book reads like a novel. It’s filled with nuances and passion for Manny. I highly recommend it. The paperback version of “Pacman; Behind the Scenes” will hit the bookstores next week.

 

“Manny is not boring,” said Poole:” But he is one of the world’s least quotable active professional athletes.  If you conduct an interview with Manny in English, yes, he tends to repeat the same clichés.  Many of us have sat in the cramped dressing room at the Wild Card as he talks about fighting for his fans and training hard.   I don’t think he is completely comfortable speaking English, and he doesn’t like to show up his opponents. Actions, for Pacquiao, seem to speak louder than words.”

 http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-glendale-ca/interviewing-manny-pacquiao