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.
June 16th, 2009 - 10:02 am
B-Rod…only in one of your articles would I find a reference to Dylan, a mention of Sotomayor, and the word “Nuyorican.” Absolutely hysterical!!
That Cotto-Clottey fight was great, like you said it would be, and the crazy “Nuyoricans” (aka Americans….Do we always need to bring up the differences between Americans? If you were born in NYC you are an American…I don’t care what your ethnic ancestry is….anyway) were celebrating the next day at the parade.
You called it man….Clottey just didn’t throw enough punches, but he is tough, has great defense, and has a great left uppercut. I wish he would get a rematch but I know he won’t. Can’t wait for Cotto-Pacman now!! Keep it up ROD!!!
June 17th, 2009 - 9:59 am
couldn’t agree with you more Brian about Olympic boxing…completely unwatchable. I know RJJ got screwed, but did we need to send the entire bloody amateur system to hell because of it? I used to love amateur boxing, now i can’t even suggest people to watch it because i am afraid it will turn them off to the sport.
June 17th, 2009 - 7:34 pm
Loved watching the Cotto-Clottey fight. I really wanted to Cotto to win for his psychological well-being. He needed to prove that he could fight a tough opponent and get the decision.
It was a close fight, though. I don’t know where the one judge came up with the 116-111 score. It was a tough one to judge.
I hope that Cotto-Pacquaio is really going to happen…but there has to be some weight considerations or PacMan will get whipped…and I don’t want to see PacMan get beat. It would be quite a fight!!!
Like reading P&TP Ruminations and Ramblings…always good for a chuckle and has some good info, too.