By: Brandon Ortega

To many athletes sports are not simply a game, they are a way of dealing with the harsh realities of life.  Many athletes including boxers have changed their life for the better by getting involved in their sport and working hard to accomplish their biggest goals.  In many instances boxing gyms keep kids off the streets, out of gangs, out of drugs and out of trouble.  For Brandon Buchanon this story hits close to home, Buchanon began an interest in fighting long ago, he said, “His family has always had an interest in the sport.”  At the age of about 14 he would fight kids from around the neighborhood.  Eventually he found his way from neighborhood fights to the boxing gym.  After a few amateur fights he stopped boxing.  Years later at the age of 23 Buchanon was getting into the dangerous world of drugs, he quickly realized his life was going downhill and if he did not change his way of life then he would end up in jail or possibly even worse he could be dead.

Looking to live the right lifestyle Brandon returned to the gym this time with goals in mind.  There was a strong desire to become a professional fighter, and on March 26, 2005 he accomplished this when he stepped into the ring with Joe Cruz.  With little amateur experience Buchanon has had to learn lessons quickly on the job, being in tremendous conditioning shape he implemented a brawl now box later mentality in an attempt to wear opposition down.  So far his record stand at 6 wins 7 losses and 1 draw.  However, if you ask Buchanon himself he acknowledges two losses claiming the others fell as losses due the political game of the sport.  After a win against Terry Butterbaugh on July 10, 2008 Buchanon retired from the sport of boxing.

Many boxers who have a love for the sport have a tough time leaving it all behind.  This is why Buchanon has returned to the boxing gym yet again.  This time his goal is to find out what is left, leave everything he has left in boxing inside the ring.  For so long Buchanon never used his boxing intelligence to his full advantage, this time around he plans to fight with his head and heart.  The goal now is to get back into fighting condition and to possibly get a tune-up fight within the next two months at or around the 154 mark where he feels most comfortable for the moment.  With work and family life now, finding time for the gym is a little harder, but a final go around in the sport is what is in Buchanon’s heart.  When he steps back into the ring to find out what he has left, the opponent better believe that he is going to get everything Buchanon has to offer and he is willing to leave it all on the line for one last chance at boxing glory.

By Brian Rodriguez

To terribly paraphrase The Bard of American Music, ain’t it just like the night to make one ruminate and ramble?:

Ortiz – Maidana: 5 knockdowns in a smidge more than 5 rounds of an all-out slugfest…enough said.  This fight was all that it promised to be.  If Ortiz were a “matador” – as the pre-fight strategy intended he be – he might have won this fight.  The problem is that Ortiz is not a natural boxer; he doesn’t use his feet to fight at a distance, stick the jab, land combinations, then get outside.  Ortiz’s natural instinct is to fight, move forward, and finish; not box.  Maidana’s heavy hands, Ortiz’s questionable chin, and the willingness of Ortiz to stand and trade blows with the Argentinean played directly into Maidana’s strengths.

Collection time: I’ll be in Vegas soon, “Mandy” (name changed to protect the innocent), to collect my winnings from the aforementioned fight.

Short and to the point: Maidana would have taken Ortiz out faster and more convincingly than he did if he threw his punches straight.  Each time that Maidana was knocked down (once in the first round, and twice in the second round), it was the result of his proclivity to wail away at Ortiz with wide, looping punches rather than shots fired from the shoulder.  Maidana would stun Ortiz with a not-so-veiled straight right hand, and in his haste to try and finish “Vicious” Victor, Maidana would throw arcing punches, which left Maidana’s feet out of the proper position and made him susceptible to being floored by Ortiz’s shorter, straighter blows.

The Rock of Ages – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: As The Good Book states, there is “a time to every purpose under heaven.”  Having said that, the time for a young fighter to question his passion and will to endure in the toughest of sports is not in a live post-fight interview with Max Kellerman on HBO.  For a fighter to say that he is “young” and does “not deserve to be taking this kind of punishment,” cries out weakness.  If Ortiz doesn’t want to get hit, cut, or punched in the face, he should probably find another vocation.  A boxer admitting that he doesn’t like to take punishment is like a Starbucks “barista” saying that he/she vomits at the smell of coffee.

The Bard of bards: As referenced in a previous P&TP Ruminations and Ramblings (http://pugilismandthepen.com/?p=343), The Man from Stratford-upon-Avon ruminated, “Expectation is the root of all heartache.”  Only The Bard’s brevity could encapsulate the morass of emotions being felt by Oscar De La Hoya after the loss of Victor Ortiz.  Again, to paraphrase, all glory is fleeting.

Schadenfreude, anyone?: Any astute observer of fights and fighters promoted by Golden Boy Promotions knows that Oscar De La Hoya is typically stoic while watching his charges from ringside.  B-Hop and “Sugar” Shane often are quite gregarious when one of the company’s pugilists is plying his trade, but De La Hoya rarely is emotive.  I guess that all changes when the Golden Goose aka Victor Ortiz is in action.

Getting your money’s worth: Fight fans knew that the Ortiz – Maidana contest had all the markings of a good fight.  Credit goes to Golden Boy Promotions for taking a chance with a young fighter in Ortiz (only 22-years-old) and matching him up with a legitimate top-10 junior welterweight.  I hope Ortiz is able to bounce back and return to the ring having learned from this defeat.  Ortiz certainly possesses the necessary boxing skills to become a champion.

Scoring a round: Check out this link for some expert insight into how the first round of Ortiz – Maidana should have been scored (both men were knocked down).  For the record, I scored the round 10-9 for Maidana:  http://www.ringtv.com/blog/824/giampas_take_first_round/

The Proverbial “Deer in the headlights”: Maybe it was a foreshadowing of events soon to transpire, but did anyone else watching ESPN Friday Night Fights this past weekend think De La Hoya was a “tad” bit awkward in his interview with Teddy Atlas?  Did the bona fide Golden Boy forget Manny Pacquiao when asked to name the best fighter in the sport not promoted by De La Hoya?  Talk about a painful interview.

Teddy’s Flow; Where’d it go?: ESPN has been touting Teddy Atlas’ “flow meter,” which is a real time graphic display of how Atlas is scoring a round.  I thought it was a great addition to the broadcast.  So, why was the “flow meter” MIA this past Friday?

Juanma: I don’t see anybody being able to beat Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez in either the junior featherweight or featherweight divisions.  He is so technically sound, punches like a mule with his lead hand (the right hand), and has tremendous maturity and ring savvy for his age (26-years-old).  Bob Arum is all set to match Juanma with Yuriorkis Gamboa next year at featherweight.  Unless Gamboa improves his defense exponentially over the next few months, I have Juanma winning this potential contest going away.  Don’t let me down, Juanma, or I will never allow you to be photographed with me again.

King Arthur: Arthur Abraham is a tough nut to crack.  He buries himself behind that hands-up defensive shell, waits for his opponent to tire from throwing punches being blocked by Abraham’s arms and gloves, then “The King” unleashes big right hands and left hooks.  I think Kelly Pavlik has enough power in his jab and right hand to split Abraham’s guard, but if Pavlik can’t get through King Arthur’s armor, it will be a long fight for the Ohioan (assuming the fight ever gets made).

“On the waters of oblivion”: The IBF bantamweight title battle between Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko and Vic Darchinyan coming up in two weeks has been circled on my calendar for months.  Unfortunately, I get the sense that not enough people know how great a fight this could be.  Come on Don King, Showtime, Gary Shaw, et al…promote this fight!  As long as Agbeko doesn’t all of a sudden come down with malaria, this fight should be an entertaining shoot-out (try to find Agbeko’s last fight against William Gonzalez on YouTube to get a taste of the Ghanaian’s fighting spirit).  The card also features a solid undercard, with Steve Cunningham facing Wayne Braithwaite in an IBF Title Eliminator bout.  Who doesn’t want to see Adamek – Cunningham II?

Please, don’t make me beg like Shane Mosley: Now that the Andreas Kotelnik – Amir Khan fight has been rescheduled for July 18, I am hoping that it will find a TV outlet here in the United States.  Pay-per-view would be fine with me; I just want to see the fight.

The obligatory Sotomayor rambling: Given the recent decision by SCOTUS to overturn Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in the “white firefighters” case, Pugilism & The Pen continues to be justified in its decision to oppose Sotomayor’s nomination to the High Court based upon her lack of attendance at the Cotto – Clottey fight during Puerto Rican Day parade weekend.

“The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is”: Winston Churchill uttered those words.  In that vein, here’s a little truth being laid on ya:  The combined records of the fighters scheduled to compete on the June 27 “Denver’s MVPs” card was 49-63 (prior to the evening’s festivities and not including draws).  Please.  Denver fight fans deserve more bang for their buck, especially with economic times being such as they are.

Well, fight aficionados and devotees, we’ve come to the end of another Ruminations and Ramblings session.  Continue to check P&TP for more insightful, thought-provoking analysis.

Until the next post, protect yourself at all times, and Godspeed.

"Sugar" Shane Mosley proved his excellence against Antonio Margarito, which may be why the megafights are alluding him.

By Brandon Ortega

Future Hall of Fame fighter and current WBA welterweight champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley is finding it difficult for him to land a big name, big money fight.

The long time boxing superstar had hoped to land a fight with the Pacquiao vs. Hatton winner or a rematch with Miguel Cotto.  Ironically it appears that it will be Cotto vs. Pacquiao fighting each other leaving Mosley stuck in limbo with no opponent.  A fight with Josh Clotty has come up in conversation, though should a Hall of Fame fighter like Mosley have to take Miguel Cotto’s seconds?  Not to mention we all know Josh Clottey is not a big draw, and neither is Shane Mosley unless he is matched up with a marquee name fighter like Oscar de La Hoya or Fernando Vargas.

So if he needs a big name fighter then that leaves Paul Williams out of the question, not to mention at welterweight Paul Williams no longer holds a belt, so he brings no title, no money, no large crowd draw, so why would Mosley be interested in fighting him?

The logical opponent now for Shane is to fight Andre Berto (25-0).   Berto brings something to the table at least, he is a fast rising star in the sport and owns the WBC welterweight title.  An alphabet title unification between the legendary and current WBA welterweight Champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley vs. Undefeated WBC welterweight Champion Andre Berto sounds like the obvious best choice.

Perhaps if Mosley unifies two of the titles he can entice the Cotto vs. Pacquiao winner or the Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. winner.

Miguel Cotto lands a vicious left hook to the body of Joshua Clottey during their bloody encounter at Madison Square Garden on June 13. AP Photo/Peter Morgan

By Brian Rodriguez

brian@pugilismandthepen.com

More ruminatin’ and ramblin’ from this week:

Cotto – Clottey Fight: The Bard, William Shakespeare (certainly not to be confused with your not-so-humble boxing bard), wrote:  “Expectation is the root of all heartache.”  Not in this case, Bill.  Miguel Cotto vs. Joshua Clottey from Madison Square Garden lived up to expectation and then some.  This was a true fight fans fight; anybody who seriously follows the sport got what they expected…a brutal, bloody, battle of will.

The Strength of the Will: At the elite level of prizefighting, of which both Cotto and Clottey are residents, the will to win is often the determining factor in victory or defeat.  Miguel Cotto willed himself to victory on June 13.  After sustaining a brutal gash over his left eye in the third round – the result of the seemingly obligatory Clottey head butt – the man from Caguas, Puerto Rico fought heroically with blood obstructing his vision.  He battled in the tradition of the gladiatorial warrior, and his willingness to do so was the deciding factor in a give-and-take struggle.

Most Avoided Fighter: I have a feeling this handle will soon be affixed upon Joshua Clottey.  Even in a sport built around the ideals of toughness and strength, the business of boxing sometimes dictates that a fighter can be too tough and too strong; especially when said fighter doesn’t bring much in the way of monetary drawing power.  Clottey has a rock hard chin, is always in superb fighting condition, and always comes prepared for a bruising affair.  What top welterweight would want to fight him?

Clottey:  “Always the bride’s maid…”: Jim Lampley dubbed Clottey “the hardest luck fighter in the welterweight division.”  Clottey did not lose because he was unlucky; we all make our own luck.  The Ghanaian lost because he simply did not throw enough punches in the final two rounds of the fight.  Just like the perpetual bride’s maid, there usually is a reason for one’s lot in life.  In each of Clottey’s losses (Carlos Baldomir, Antonio Margarito, and Miguel Cotto), he did just enough to manage to lose the fight.

Pugilism & The Pen Issues Verdict on United States Supreme Court Nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor: True to the word of P&TP’s proclamation in the last edition of “Ruminations & Ramblings” (which can be found at http://pugilismandthepen.com/?p=338), the editorial board has decided to withhold support for Judge Sotomayor’s nomination to SCOTUS.

“If you’ve got the money, honey, I’ve got the time”: Merle Haggard had it right.  In that spirit, instead of Oscar De La Hoya calling Dan Rafael at ESPN.com to try and get Shane Mosley a fight with Pacquiao, why not just bring Pacquiao $1 million in a suitcase and see if he bites?

President Barack Obama in Attendance for Mayweather – Marquez?: Both “Money” Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez have invited their respective country’s Presidents to their bout, which was recently postponed (due to a rib cartilage injury sustained by Mayweather).  Assuming that the bout does come off in September or October, I highly doubt we can expect President Obama to attend.  Given recent events, one can only deduce that he would not want to “meddle” in the fight.  I, personally,  hope Mr. Obama will be ringside…there would be no better publicity for the Sweet Science.  But, if he misses this Mayweather fight, maybe Mr. Obama’s motive is to hold out for the prospect of a primo seat at a Mayweather – Pacquiao superfight.

By Brian M. Rodriguez

Some of my ruminations and ramblings:

“Fight Night Club”: This was a highly entertaining night of boxing live from Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles.  If the fights continue to be as good as those staged on the debut, televised on Versus network, Golden Boy has a real success on its hands.

“The Executioner”: Bernard Hopkins is at his best while ringside as an analyst.  When he has been in-studio with Brian Kenny on Friday Night Fights, B-Hop seems uncomfortable with the surroundings.  He is the consummate student of the Sweet Science, and he is comfortable “in his own skin” when breaking down a fight from the apron of the squared circle.

“I’m goin’ back to New York City; I do believe I’ve had enough”: Miguel Cotto will soon find himself in a fight with Joshua Clottey in his “home away from home” known as Madison Square Garden on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade.  Given the recent imbroglio between Miguel and his now ex-trainer and uncle, Evangelista Cotto, Miguel Angel might find the familiar setting of the Mecca of boxing a needed shelter from his familial storm.

Supreme Court Justice Nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor: Given the pride this now high profile “Nuyorican” has for the land of Boriken, I am hoping she will attend this evening’s festivities at the Garden.  The editorial board of Pugilism & The Pen has decided that its support of her nomination for SCOTUS will be highly dependent upon Sotomayor’s presence at ringside……like she cares.

Olympic style pugilism: This is getting ridiculous.  Scoring fights with computer touch pads and based solely upon “points” is not the best way to determine the winner of a battle of fisticuffs.  How can one say at the beginning of the final round of a fight:  “If this guy lands 3 punches this round, he will win?”  Now, I wasn’t there, but the following Associated Press story from the USA Boxing national championships here in Denver illustrates my point.  http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4252826

ESPN Friday Night Fights: Robert Guerrero vs. Efren Hinojosa: This was the noble sport of boxing at its nadir.  Hinojosa, a 37 year-old veteran taking the fight on less than a week’s notice, just absorbed punishment from a youthful, prime Guerrero.  At times I felt embarrassed for the sport.  I know it is not the case, but I hope that Hinojosa made a lot of money for the beating he sustained.

Miguel Cotto (Left) and Joshua Clottey (Right) will battle for the WBO welterweight title Saturday, June 13 at Madison Square Garden. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

By Brian M. Rodriguez

brian@pugilismandthepen.com

Once again the boxing universe will turn its collective eye to the original Mecca of the sport this weekend, as Miguel Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs) defends his WBO welterweight title against Joshua Clottey (35-2, 20 KOs) at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

This encounter between two of the top 147-pound fighters on the planet promises not only brutal violence inside the ring, but also the fervid fanaticism of thousands of Puerto Ricans at the Garden eager to see Miguel Cotto continue his winning tradition in his fourth fight on the eve of the annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade.  Even though Clottey currently resides in the Bronx, he will be walking into the proverbial lion’s den, with countless Boricuas screaming hysterically for the Ghanaian’s demise.

Leaving aside the electric atmosphere sure to envelop the locale around Seventh Avenue and 32^nd Street on fight night, your not-so-humble boxing bard has reviewed countless hours of fight footage of both Cotto and Clottey hoping to find the keys to victory in what is a very evenly matched bout.  So, with the timeless refrain, “Pride cometh before the fall,” resounding in my mind, this is what I have discerned.

First and foremost, this is going to be a tough, bruising battle between two true welterweights.  Both Cotto and Clottey are stout fighters, with Clottey possessing the more sculpted of the two frames.  Cotto and Clottey each had competitive fights with Zab Judah and Antonio Margarito, which means these two warriors know how to both sustain and mete out punishment.  This is sure to be a battle of wills in the truest sense of the phrase, with the victor being the one who is willing to fight through blistering punishment.  This means entertaining viewing for the public, which is important since this fight will air on HBO during HBO’s free preview weekend.  If both fighters deliver their best, it could lead to an increased fan base for boxing.

From a technical standpoint, this fight pits an aggressive boxer puncher in Cotto versus a plodding counterpuncher in Clottey.  Cotto, a converted southpaw, would be best served to utilize his wicked left hook to the body followed by a straight right hand to the head, which he worked to perfection against Margarito.  By continually pounding the body of Clottey, Cotto will slowly begin to lower Clottey’s signature hands-up, tight defensive shell.  If Cotto can gradually bring down Clottey’s guard, the Puerto Rican will then be able to unleash lefts to the liver followed by a quick left hook upstairs to Clottey’s head.

As for Clottey’s plan of attack, I believe he will need to be much more active than he has been in most of his bouts.  In a fight that I see going to the cards (Clottey has never been stopped, and Cotto’s only submission came at the now suspect hands of Margarito), punch output will be of prime importance.  This means that Clottey will need to move to his left (away from Cotto’s left hook) and use his jab.  When the Ghanaian gets in close, he will need to use his left uppercut, which was very effective against Judah.  It was Clottey’s left uppercut that caused the cut over Judah’s right eye, which led to Clottey’s “technical decision”, i.e. TKO, win in round nine).  Furthermore, Clottey will need to be sharp and precise with his counterpunching, using overhand rights when Cotto jabs, and left hooks to Cotto’s body if Cotto reaches with his right hand.

Another aspect of this fight that I would be remiss in omitting is the proclivities of both fighters to, at times, stretch the rules of clean fighting.  Clottey likes to lead with his head, which often leads to “accidental” head butts that open wounds on his opponent’s visage.  Cotto, on the other hand, has a penchant for low blows (witness his 2007 battle with Judah for evidence of several punches straying below the beltline), and although he feigns regret with an apologetic bow, the damage has still be done.  It would not surprise this author if the contest turns a little chippy as the action heads into the later rounds.

Of course, a pugilistic match-up at this elite level often comes down to intangible elements that make the difference between victory and defeat.  For Cotto, there are two lingering questions to be answered.  First, has Cotto fully recovered both physically and mentally from the bludgeoning he received in his epic war with Antonio Margarito last summer?  Second, how will the man from Caguas respond to his new trainer, Joe Santiago, having recently fired his uncle (Evangelista Cotto) after a physical altercation resulted in an acrimonious divorce?  Clottey, for his part, has his own issues.  He has not fought since August 2008.  Will the ten month layoff result in any ring rust?  Does he possess the stamina necessary to increase his work rate?  Also, how will Clottey handle the biggest stage of his career and the hostile crowd he is sure to encounter?

In the final analysis, I envision a highly entertaining fight with each combatant having his moments.  Both men will wake up on Sunday morning with the full realization that they have been in a violent clash.  When pressed for a prediction, I see Cotto pleasing his fans with a close unanimous decision victory (much like his fight at Madison Square Garden with Shane Mosley in November 2007).  Cotto’s triumph will be due primarily to his superior boxing skill and greater punch output.  He will control the pace of the fight, win the chess match known as ring generalship, and in so doing, further cement his place in the pantheon of Puerto Rican boxing heroes.

***The Miguel Cotto – Joshua Clottey fight will air live on HBO at 10:30 EST/8:30 MST on Saturday, June 13.***

BJ Flores doin' work in Las Vegas. Flores took some time to answer a few questions from Pugilism & The Pen on May 1, 2009.

By Brian M. Rodriguez

brian@pugilismandthepen.com

There is nothing like a megafight to bring the boxing glitterati out in abundance.  Whether it’s promoters like Bob Arum or Oscar De La Hoya, boxing journalists such as Bert Randolph Sugar or Thomas Hauser, or prominent pugilists too numerous to name, the lure of a big-time prizefight functions as a sort of central hub for the fistic world.

The most recent superfight was, of course, the showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2, 2009.  One member of the boxing fraternity who was in attendance for the weekend’s festivities was current NABO cruiserweight titlist, BJ Flores (23-0-1, 14 KOs).

Flores was taking in the action at Top Rank’s boxing card on Friday, May 1^st at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.  During a break between fights, Flores was gracious enough to answer a few questions for readers of Pugilism & The Pen (P&TP).

P&TP:  Hey, BJ.  Thanks for taking a little time to answer a few quick questions for Pugilism & The Pen.

BJ Flores: No problem, man.  I’m just having a good time watching the fights.  Go ahead and ask away.

P&TP:  When are you expecting to get back in the ring?  We saw your last fight against Jose Luis Herrera on Square Ring Promotions’ boxing/mixed martial arts pay-per-view card [March 21, 2009].  What’s next for you?

Flores: Well, I’m hoping to get back into the ring soon.  Right now, we are looking at fighting in possibly June or July, maybe in Springfield, Missouri.  I’m not sure yet who the opponent will be, but I am looking forward to defending the NABO belt.  I just want to stay busy because I have been out of the ring so much these last two years.

P&TP:  Can you talk a little bit about the proposed fight with Tomasz Adamek that fell through a few months ago?  There was talk that you had been offered a fight with Adamek but you turned it down.  Why did you decide not to take the opportunity to fight for the cruiserweight title?

Flores: All that talk that was going on in the boxing media; that was all speculation.  The fact of the matter is that there was never a legitimate offer from Main Events [Adamek's promoter].  Main Events wanted a fight at The Prudential Center in New Jersey and the gate for that fight would have done around $750,000.  The thing is that Main Events only offered me $30,000 for the fight and I thought that was way too low.  So, I just didn’t think it was a legitimate offer by Main Events.

P&TP:  Is there a cruiserweight out there you would really like to fight?

Flores: Yeah.  Right now we are looking at trying to get a fight with Victor Emilio Ramirez [current WBO cruiserweight title holder].  The tentative plan is to fight in June or July and then I would like my next fight to be against Ramirez in the late summer or in the fall.

P&TP:  We’ve seen you a few times in-studio during ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” this year.  How do you like doing TV?

Flores: I really enjoy it.  It is a ton of fun.  I love working on ESPN and working with Joe [Tessitore], Teddy [Atlas], and Brian [Kenny] is great.  They are really good guys and there is nothing better than talking about the sport I love.  I just love boxing and so it is a perfect outlet for me to talk about it and give some insight on the sport from a boxer’s perspective.

P&TP:  Well, I see that the fighters for the next bout are making their way to the ring, so one more quick question.  Tell me about your recent signing with Roy Jones Jr.’s promotional company, Square Ring Promotions.  What did you think of Jones’ fight with Omar Sheika?

Flores: Roy, obviously, is a truly great fighter.  I have always looked up to him and I thought we saw flashes of the old Roy Jones Jr. in there against Sheika.  I think if he keeps training and stays in the gym he should fight as long as he wants.  He can still compete and he still has all that great talent.  As far as Square Ring goes, Roy and the entire promotional side of the Square Ring team have been great to me.  They have been great for me and I am looking forward to the future with them.

P&TP:  Thanks again for your time, BJ.  I really appreciate it.  Enjoy the rest of the fights.

Flores: No problem, man.  Anytime.  I’m a fan of boxing just like you and all the readers out there.  You have fun watching the fights, too.

By Brian M. Rodriguez

brian@pugilismandthepen.com

Here are P&TP’s ruminations and ramblings for this week:

John the Baptist: Talk about wandering in the wilderness; the past two weekends (and this upcoming weekend) have found fight fans praying for manna from heaven.  This lack of pugilistic action is causing major delirium tremens (DTs) in my household.  We need a Savior.  For the sake of my sanity and the redemption of the fistic world, let’s hope that Cotto – Clottey lives up to expectations (by the way, would it kill HBO to televise the Ivan Calderon – Rodel Mayol fight?  I love watching the “Iron Boy” practice the Sweet Science).

Angulo – Cintron & Berto – Urango: At least HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” last weekend offered enough action to satisfy my palate for pugilism.  I thought the Angulo – Cintron fight was quite entertaining, and Berto – Urango wasn’t completely sleep-inducing (well, it certainly was not all action, but not every fight can be a “fight of the year” contender).  Cintron boxed beautifully and his right hand stunned the typically unflappable Angulo several times.  Cintron’s win makes the junior middleweight and welterweight divisions even more exciting (if that is possible).  Even though “El Perro” went down in defeat, I could watch him fight every weekend.  He always comes forward, pressing the fight, giving the fans their money’s worth.  I think it is safe to say, however, that Angulo is at a decided disadvantage when he has a boxer in front of him.  Sergio Martinez would really give him problems.  Cintron’s win now sets up a mandatory rematch with Martinez; let’s see if Cintron can avoid that straight left “head butt” from Martinez in their second encounter.

Andre Berto appears to have all the physical skills necessary to be a truly great fighter, yet, he seems to suffer from CDS (“Chad Dawson Syndrome”).  He wins all his fights, but lacks that “spark”, which is necessary if he wants those big paydays.  Maybe another fight with Luis Collazo will do the trick.  One thing is for sure:  Berto needs to dispense with the quick combination-hold strategy that he employed against Urango.  If and when he gets in the ring with a true welterweight, i.e. not Steve Forbes or Urango, he’ll get crushed with that game.  Mosley, Cotto, and Margarito (assuming he is reinstated) will have none of that.

Dog Fighting: Here is Alfredo Angulo on why they call him “El Perro”:  “When dogs fight, they go at it and don’t let go.”  Was I the only one who immediately thought of Michael Vick?

Coolest Name for a Cutman: Creed Fountain, the cutman working Kermit Cintron’s corner.  He doesn’t even need a nickname, like Jacob “Stitch” Duran.  In fact, Creed Fountain’s name would be just as sweet if said in reverse:  Fountain Creed.

Cotto in the Corner: Speaking of people in a fighter’s corner, it was nice to see Evangelista Cotto training Juan Urango…and there wasn’t a cinder block or Jaguar in sight.

Manny Pacquiao and “Street Fighter”: Check this out on YouTube…classic.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XEbmVgu3qk

“Money” Mayweather?: While we’re on the subject of Manny Pacquiao, we all know that the megafight out there is against Floyd “Money” Mayweather.  But, I have to ask, is one allowed to use the sobriquet “Money” when the IRS has had several liens on one’s property?  I think it’s time to go back to “Pretty Boy”, Floyd.

“I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken”: Two people not flapping their gums as of late:  Floyd Mayweather Sr. and David Haye.  While I am confident that this trend will not last long, it is nice to have a reprieve from the endless self-proclamations of “the greatest” this, and the “best of all-time” that.  Thanks for the break, guys.

Motion for Summary Judgment: Victor Conte’s quest to have “Sugar” Shane Mosley’s defamation lawsuit against him dismissed fell short.  Mosley is suing Conte, in essence, for slander because Conte had the gall to say that Mosley knowingly injected steroids prior to his second fight with Oscar De La Hoya.  Mosley does not deny using the illegal drugs; he just claims that he did so unknowingly.  Okay…isn’t that the same excuse that Antonio Margarito used with regard to his loaded hand wraps?  So, please tell us State Athletic Commissions, when is ignorance a legitimate defense?

Rob Frankel: Now it’s time to get serious.  The recent news that Rob Frankel has been sentenced to ten years in prison is, quite simply, sad.  Sad for his wife, his children (who will be without a father for an extended period of time), the Colorado boxing community, and for Frankel.  Let’s just hope that Rob will take this time to reflect on his life, and come out of confinement a better person.  And, for the record, just because something is sad, does not mean it is not just…Frankel perpetrated an appalling crime, and he is now being justly punished.

“Battle Under the Stars II”: I have received several comments and email regarding the absence of a fight report for this card, which was held on May 30.  Yes, I was at the fights.  Unfortunately, the show was severely lacking in both entertainment and quality boxing, which is why my reporting of the results was sufficient to describe the evening.  This is not me “hating” or whatever other synonym one wishes to use.  I am just telling the truth as I saw it from the $25 seat that I purchased.  Man, am I glad I didn’t shell out $50 for the ringside seats.

The Fight Vault: Given the inactivity in professional boxing recently, I decided to delve into my fight collection for some fistic fury.  Having watched the Pacquiao – Hatton fight for the umpteenth time, I went back to watch the last fight that Pacman actually lost, which of course was his first of three battles with Erik Morales (March 19, 2005).  Even in a losing effort, Pacquiao is fun to watch.  Does it get any better than the final round, when Morales, fight securely in hand, turns southpaw to go toe-to-toe with Pacquiao?  I wanted to screen this fight for my Mom, who did not know the outcome.  When the final verdict was read, the look of shock on her face was priceless.  She couldn’t believe that Pacquiao could actually lose.  On a side note, is there anybody who exudes “slimeball” more than Pacquiao’s former promoter, Murad Muhammad?

Well, that’s all for now fellow fight fans.  Until the next post, Godspeed, and remember to protect yourself at all times.

By Brandon Ortega; Guest Writer to Pugilism & The Pen

Kermit Cintron Wins Unanimous Decision over Alfredo Angulo

116-112 All Three Judges

The fast rising prospect Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (15-1) hit a snag in his attempt to earn a title shot this year when he was out pointed by former IBF Welterweight Champion Kermit Cintron (32-2-1).  Kermit Cintron appeared to win a majority of the early rounds by simply out boxing the former Mexican Olympian, throwing combinations and moving in circles did the job for the former champion.  Angulo continued to pressure Cintron all night, however, Angulo could not put combinations together he desired to due to Cintron’s constant movement.  As the fight continued slight fatigue was shown by Cintron which allowed Angulo to tighten up the scorecards, but it was simply too little too late.  The fight was a huge statement in a make or break fight for Cintron who now has earned a mandatory title shot against Sergio Martinez, a fighter he fought in February of this year and seemed clearly beaten, yet the judges felt otherwise and gave Cintron a gift decision Draw.  As for Angulo’s future he is still a very young fighter being only 26, he is almost certain to be back to his winning ways and continue to climb towards a title shot.

Andre Berto Wins Unanimous Decision over Juan Urango

118-110 Twice, 117-111

In the Main Event of the night for HBO’s Boxing After Dark it featured WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto (25-0) vs. IBF Jr. Welterweight Champion Juan Urango (21-2-1).  Coming off his biggest win Juan Urango was able to do very little against the physically superior Andre Berto.  The speed was too much for Urango to handle and it was clear from the opening bell as Berto flicked his jab at Urango landing it with ease.  Clearly Urango could not win an outside fight versus Berto, however, when the fighters where close to each other Urango did very little.  It appeared Berto could do whatever he wished to do with Urango as he put quick hard punches together that appeared to have Urango in trouble.  Berto stated he was out to follow the game plan and box, not get into a fire fight as he did with Luis Callazo.  Now the question has become who is next for Andre Berto?  In a loaded division with stars like Miguel Cotto, Sugar Shane Mosley, Antonio Magarito, Manny Pacquiao in addition to the dimmer stars, but excellent fighters such as Paul Williams, Josh Clottey, Carlos Quintana, and Zab Judah there is no shortage of choices for the young titlist. It will be interesting to observe the path Berto and his team decides to take, but to capture the attention of the big money names like Cotto and Mosley, Berto needs to create more buzz which he could have done by Knocking out Urango which seemed very plausible if he had committed to it.  Nevertheless, Andre Berto is one of the biggest rising stars in the sport and in a loaded welterweight division, superstardom may be coming for the fighter from Winterhaven, Florida.

Here are the results from last evening’s bouts held at Softball Country Arena in Denver, Colorado:

Main Event: 6 Rounds – Welterweight

Geoffery Spruiell Unanimous Decision over Brad Jackson

Scorecards: 58-55 (twice), 57-56

Current Records: Spruiell = 8-7, (2 KOs); Jackson = 9-1-1, (6 KOs)

Co-Feature: 6 Rounds – Lightweight

Manny Perez Unanimous Decision over Daniel Gonzales

Scorecards: 60-54, 59-55, 58-56

Current Records: Perez = 13-4-1, (2 KOs); Gonzalez = 9-22-2 (3 KO)

Bantamweight – 6 Rounds

Alejandro Castillo Unanimous Decision over Francisco Dominguez

Scorecards: 60-54, 59-55, 58-56

Current Records: Castillo = 3-0, (1 KO); Dominguez = 6-5, (1 KO)

Junior Lightweight – 4 Rounds

Jacob Dominguez Unanimous Decision over Josh Martinez

Scorecards: 40-36 (twice), 39-37

Current Records: Dominguez = 1-0, (0 KO); Martinez = 1-3, (0 KO)