Jeeves, In Defense of Promoters

By Howie Reed

This edition of The Square Ring and the next four will come to you direct from the Land of Smiles where His Lordship is taking a not-well-deserved holiday. As he suffers from jet lag, among others infirmities, your loyal servant the honorable E.M.F. Jeeves will be conducting this informed class on all things boxing.

Unlike his Lordship, I like to give credit due to those that make their living as boxing promoters. Too often they are maligned, have their reputations besmirched and are the blunt of ill informed criticism. In the public ranking system they ranked ahead of only lawyers, aluminum siding salesman and members of the United States Congress. They are the fuel that runs the boxing engine.

It’s a fact that anyone that acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client. With the exception of Oscar de La Hoya the same thing can be said for a boxer that acts as his own promoter. James “Light Out” Toney has decided that he will launch his own promotional firm run by his corner man/manager John Arthur. Toney, as a boxer, has been great with flashes of brilliance during his almost 19 year career. In that time Toney has 71 wins, 6 loses and 43 big wins by KO. It is also a fact that he’s  probably a couple of minutes short of a full round.  In his last five outings he’s had 2 very questionable “split decision wins”, 2 loses (to Sam Peter) and a “no contest.” To use a term you Yanks seem to like so much “he is so yesterday.”

MARGARITO

Ok guys and gals in boxing, enough is enough. Antonio Margarito was caught cheating. Many in boxing wanted to exonerate Margarito from any blame. “He’s is a good man”. Bologna the proof is now in. He was found to have elements of plaster of Paris in his hand wraps. He should never fight again. His trainer should receive a similar ban. Miguel Cotto said it best. “I understand that Margarito not only played with my health but he played with health of many boxers,” said Cotto. “Only God knows. I have received punishment in my career but I never had my face swell like in that fight. In the heat of the fight I didn’t feel the punches, but my face didn’t say that. I understand that one year of suspension is not much for the kind of unsportsmanlike act that Margarito presented against Mosley. He deserves the same suspension as trainer Panama Lewis. He should never step into a boxing ring again.”

Go Miguel.

Irish family battle

Regular readers of TSR know that one of his Lordship’s favorite boxers and people is former champion Wayne “The Pocket Rocket’ McCullough (28-7). McCullough, who has been out of the ring since June of last year, was suppose to fight in St. Paddy’s day in New York City only to have the card cancelled. He’s 1-4 since 03 when he was in a battle royal with the now disgraced former champion Scott Harrison. At the time there was talked that maybe “Harrison was on something.” That aside McCullough has lost twice to Oscar Larios (63-7) who recently lost his WBC featherweight title two weeks ago to Takahiro Aoh in Tokyo.

McCullough  penned a letter to new champion and countryman Bernard Dunne recently. “ Bernard, Congratulations on your great win …you deserve it.  You’ve worked hard to get where you are today.  Being able to come back from the 5^th round to pull out the win, while being so far behind on the cards, is an accomplishment in itself. Doesn’t it feel good to be a World Champion?!? I’m really delighted for you...” McCullough then proposes that the two meet in the ring. “Let’s get down to business! Let’s get this done. I don’t have a promoter so the fight can be made easily – if you and your team want it! I’m an over the hill old man so I’m not going to be much of a threat to you!!! We don’t have to fight for your belt but that would be a bonus. Anyway when I beat you, the belt is going to stay with an Irishman!!!” the letter ends with, “Enjoy your success, Bernard. I’m proud of you!! Your friend, Wayne McCullough.”

Boxing and TV…DOA ?

For years boxing fans have been told that boxing on “free TV” just won’t work.. That might be true. It’s also possible that today’s modern day promoters aren’t familiar with working with commercial “free TV”. According to surveys released late in the week 11.5 million watch the Klitschko-Juan Gomez fight on German’s RTL Channel. In addition the fight was shown in over 100 other countries. In the USA ESPN Classic and ESPN2 carried the fight. Boxing on Free TV what a original idea of course there was Wednesday Night fight (Pabst Blue Ribbon), Friday Night Fights (Gillett Cavalcade of Sports) and Saturday Night Fights brought to you by White Owl. “Why don’t you pick one up and smoke it some time.”

KING  FILE’S PROTEST

When Amir Kahn got a five-round “technical decision” over Marco Antonio Barrera (65-6-0) TSR noted that the severe cut to Barrera’s eye happened early in the fight. In the fourth round time out was called as the “local” doctor checked out the cut. He allowed the fight to continue into the fifth round. Had the fight been stopped in the fourth, it would have gone in the record books as a “no decision.” By allowing the fight to continue to the fifth round, the scorecards came into play. Kahn got his win but was a boxer put in danger by a doctor helping a local boxer achieve a win. Don King thinks so and has filed a protest that will go nowhere. Nice try Don.

THE 10 COUNT

One of the great champions of yesteryear was Raúl “Raton” Macías Guevara who went 41-2 in a pro career that began after he represented Mexico at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. His greatest success came while fighting in the USA. In 1955 he was rated the #1 bantamweight in the world when champion Robert Cohen refused to defend the title against him. The main sanctioning body at the time, the NBA, matched Macias against Thailand’s Chamroen Songkitrat in San Francisco’s Cow Palace. Some may think it a little “dodgy” that Songkitrat would get a title chance considering that his “official” record at the time 6-3-1 including loses coming in to Jimmy Carruthers and Robert Cohen. Macías got a 11^th round TKO for the title.

Macías would defend the title only three times in two years before losing to Alphonse Halimi at the old Wrigley filed in Los Angeles on a “split decision.” Wrigley at the time was the home of the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast “Rounders’ League. Macías only other loss was to Billy Peacock whose 42-24 record belies the fact that he lost 23 of his last 29. Macías would retire in 1959 then come back for one fight in 1962 before a final retirement. He said his final “adios” last week... Rest in peace.

THE FIGHT CALENDAR April 4th (Saturday)

At The Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada

Timothy Bradley (23-0) is the WBC junior light welterweight champion. . Kendall Holt (25-2) is the WBO junior welter champ. After their fight next Saturday in Montreal one of the boxers will hold both titles while the other will have what His Lordships Dad use to say, “Is what the little boy shot at.” Just another of the Gun Crazy Yanks sayings. Neither of these boxer’s ranks ahead of the leader’s of the division who are Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton or Nate Campbell. Regardless as the Lord of the Manor would say, “neither are too Chablis.” The winner will certainly gain new respect within the decision. In the pre fight hype there has been the predictable “trash talk” which can pretty much be ignored. The leading publicist for the fight claims that “this is the biggest international boxing event in Montreal, Canada since Roberto Duran-Sugar Ray Leonard”. That was the Duran-Leonard before the “No Mas’ fight.  Should be a “jam up scrap.”

At The Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX

Many in boxing have been waiting for KO artist Edwin Valero (24-0-24KO’s) to step into a ring in the USA. Valero’s last fight in “the states” was in December of ’03 when he KO’d Tomas Zambrano in 1.The wait is over as Valero takes on Antonio Pitalua (46-3) next Saturday for the vacant WBC lightweight title. As the bout will take place in Austin, Texas it should come as no surprise that the WBC (World Boxing Council) has assigned, with the approval of Texas authorities boxing, referee Larry “The Clown” Cole to work the bout. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Larry’s Dad, Dickie, is the Texas Boxing authorities. Just proves that a having a daddy is better than saving pictures from the office Christmas party.

Pitalua is mostly unknown outside of his native Mexico as all 46 of his fights have been there. His 40 KO’s does support the knowledge that he has some power which would promise a “shoot out” in this one. There is a sight warning sign in the fact that since January of ’06 4 of 5 Pitalua’s KO’s come against boxers with a combined record of 0-8. While it lasts it should be a barn burner.

RESULTS…

Petchaburi..Thailand

Bantamweight Tantong Kiattaweesuk got some nice local exposure when he got his young career to 10-0 with a nationally televised TKO at 2:36 of the second stanza. His opponent from Indonesia Singo Kinaro has now leveled his record at 2-2. The story from the Thai press notes that Kinaro is “rated #1 contender in latest Indonesian Boxing Association records.” As Your Lordship might write, “Shirley, you jest “.

At The Nokia Theater, Los Angeles, CA

It’s never a good sign when a heavyweight comes in with 8 more pounds than he’s ever carried. That’s the case with Samuel Peter (30-2) at the weight in before he met Eddie Chambers (33-1) last Friday. A boxer will say “I’m more comfortable”, “I feel better” or “it’s where I should be”. That’s all BS. Fat is bad and pretends being lazy, not in shape and ready to be upset.

His Lordship wrote the above before he deplaned for the Land of Smiles and out one man attempt to help the Thai economy. How prophetic that he finally got something correct. Eddie Chamber’s got a majority decision that won would have to question just a little. One judge saw it 95 all with his two fellow judges seeing a different fight at 96-94 and 99-91. Fightnews reports, “Chambers did a little more than the sluggish Peter.” The old “sluggish Peter syndrome” strikes again.

Saturday March 28

At Plaza Monumental, Tijuana, Mexico

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. now 39-0-1 had all he wanted to defeat previously undefeated Luciano Cuello (23-1) Saturday night before 18,000 howling fans in Tijuana at the Plaza de Toro’s. The performance was awarded no trophies as is usual in the bull ring. After four rounds Jr. was up 39-37. The next 6 were “could go either way rounds” with Jr. winning out 98-92, 96-94,96-95. After the fight promoter Bob Arum mentioned the usual suspects next for Chavez, John Duddy, Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Of course Arum always mentions those three for every “next fight.” Duddy’s a real possibility as he comes off a couple of sour but winning outings. 

Humberto Soto (47-7-2) becomes the first man to stop three-time title challenger Antonio Davis (26-5) as the warm up to the Chavez fight. It was all Soto who scored two knockdowns in round one and another pair in the fourth when the fight was stopped. He was awarded two ears and a case of Corona. Soto always dangerous retains his WBC jr. lightweight title. It was not announced whether he will next fight John Duddy, Oscar de La Hoya or Manny Pacquiao. A promoter can’t think of everything.

Bayamon, Puerto Rico

When Jose Lopez (38-7-2) battled Thailand’s Pranuansak Posuwan (45-1-1) for the vacant WBO super flyweight title Saturday night in Puerto Ricio Lopez had the home field advantage for the first time. Five times Lopez tried to win world titles coming up short each time. Most recently was in September of ’01 when he lost to Fernando Montiel in Reno, Nevada. Since then Lopez has run off a record of 14-0-1. Posuwan’s lone title shot came against the same Fernando Montiel in October of ’05. Posuwan would lose by UD.

Persistence paid off for José “Carita” López who on his 37^th birthday finally won a world title. This successful 6^th try was accomplished by inviting Pramuansak Phosuwan of Thailand into his lair. The Thai’s 45-2-1 record looked good on paper but he was no match for Lopez who got the UD (117-11,117-111,116-112). The previous 5 times Lopez had title shot’s he lost via UD’s. How about that?