Pugilism & The Pen (P&TP) caught up with Raul Marquez at the weigh-in for Mike Alvarado vs. Emmanuel Clottey on March 6, 2009.  Marquez was the recent mandatory challenger of middleweight champion, Arthur Abraham, and former junior middleweight champion. As the analyst for “Box Azteca” on Azteca America, which was broadcasting the fight, Marquez was [...]

By Brian M. Rodriguez March 9, 2009 Time in the sport of boxing, just as in life, is the most precious commodity. Consisting of timed three minute rounds, a ten round prizefight offers thirty minutes of brutal, often violent action.  Not twenty-nine minutes and thirty seconds, not even twenty-nine minutes and fifty seconds.  Thirty minutes [...]

By Brian M. Rodriguez There has been a shake-up in the main event of Delgado Promotions’ Mile High Throwdown III, scheduled for March 7 at the Mile High Event Center. Undefeated junior welterweight prospect Mike Alvarado (24-0, 17 KOs) will now battle Emmanuel Clottey (24-8, 14 KOs) in his quest to remain unbeaten and on [...]

Originally Composed on April 10, 2008 By Brian M. Rodriguez “Respect commands itself and it can neither be given nor withheld when it is due.” -Eldridge Cleaver The problem with continually getting what one wants is that one inevitably comes to expect he will always receive that which he desires.  Plainly speaking, one becomes spoiled. [...]

Originally Composed on March 11, 2008 By Brian M. Rodriguez “… the desire to punch other boys in the nose will survive in our culture … [Boxing] is an art of the people, like making love.” -A.J. Liebling, “The University of Eighth Avenue” The word “renaissance” typically conjures up images of frescos adorning the Sistine [...]