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by Howie Reed
With His Lordship safely hiding away in Phuket, pronounced "Pooo Ket", as the "P" is not silent like in Phat. Easy mistake to make. The accolades have been pouring in to your loyal servant. From a famous but protected member of the boxing fraternity comes , "this was better than his normal great stuff.....Really well written,,,,and very interesting....Thank you for keeping me informed,,,it is my best source of "what's happened?" and "What's gonna happen?" The Manservant Jeeves comes to the rescue again.
VALERO…Katsidis….NEXT
With dynamite puncher Edwin Valero (25-0) the question is what comes next? Of course the usual suspects have been mentioned. Two names stand out in Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao. Forget about Pacquiao for now, as his plate is full as a free loader at a Casino Buffet.
Marquez seems the most likely big name down the road soon. Valero will probably have a tune up first. Marquez at 50-4 has the really good record with only two loses since ’06. He loss to Chris John, who may be the best in the world, at 125 and he lost two points for "questionable low blows." In 08 he lost to Manny Pacquiao in a fight many, including His Lordship, though he won. Valero will next fight July 25 against someone from the TBA Family.
Valero got high praise from TV sports announcer Berry Tompkins. "Really impressed with Edwin Valero - big upside." What is still a little puzzling is the late switch in trainers from Kenny "My Way or the Highway" Adams to Senior Robert Alacazar. The latter trained De La Hoya early in his career and has been semi retired. Valero also brings some new dialogue to post-fight press conferences. "I felt I hurt him in the first with a jab, then I broke his soul," said Valero. "Once I connected, I knew the end would come faster."
Lost in the spectacular win by Edwin Valero was the equally impressive performance of Aussie Michael Katsidis. He turned on the power after trailing for three rounds against Jesus Chavez to "do the business." In that fight he re-injured his right hand. "It’s the size of a bloody football, it’s the same injury that happened in the Juan Diaz fight." Next maybe Joel Casamayor or Amir Khan. "I think Australia would love to get one up against England with that Amir Khan fight." Khan’s people should proceed with caution as Khan isn’t at the top yet.
A KHAN JOB ???
The answer is an emphatic NO.
Andreas Kotelnik is next. While most have never heard of Andreas Kotelnik his record of 31-2 speaks volumes. Kotelnik won a silver medal at the Olympics then added the WBA "Ordinary" World light-welter title with a 12th round stoppage of Gavin Rees.
One question is who holds the "Not Ordinary" title ? Frankie Warren, Kahn’s promoter, is making way too much of his win over an aging Marco Antonio Barrera. Promoter Warren sometimes gets carried away. He's never one to be held hostage to "just the facts "
Amir put in a sensational performance against a three-time world champion and future Hall of Famer in Barrera in only his 21st fight and now he has to produce the same form against Kotelnik who is a good hard fighter."
Here comes the "BUT MONKEY", BUT Kotelnik lacks power with only 13 KO’s from 31 wins. Khan showed that he doesn’t handle power. Against Columbian Breidis Prescott, Kahn was in the "land of nod" after only 54 seconds. While the Prescott need not define Khan’s career, as it won’t, it does leave some unanswered questions. Prescott’s next out against Humberto Toledo was "ordinary". No Tyson like power although Prescott did win by DQ when Toledo chose to dine on "Buffett of shoulder."
WLAD KLITSCHKO-DAVID HAYE
Alexander Povetkin (17-0) is like most Eastern European heavyweight boxers often injured. He was back in the ring and defeated Jason Estrada. After the fight he proclaimed, "I finally want to accomplish my dream and fight [Klitschko]." The win made Povetkin the IBF mandatory challenger. In the words of football announcer Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend." Wlad Klitschko first has a date with "The Real Danger" David Haye on June 20th in the Vletins Arena in Gelsenkirchen Germany. The venue can hold 65,000 fans and will be "chalker block full". The Klitschko Camp have done everything in their power to duck Haye but have been out smarted at every turn. What ever the Klitachko camp wants, Haye has agreed too including moving the site from Stamford Bridge Stadium home the Chelsea Football Club in England to that land of VW’s, Brat’s and Bodacious Ta Ta’s. Summer, outdoors and heavyweight title fight. Gotta Love it.
BOXING CALENDER
April 14th ….In Bangkok, Thailand
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam -Julio Miranda
His Lordship is currently in Thailand this is his space. The chances f this fight happening are slim and almost none as Bangkok is in the midst civil strife. For those not familiar with Thailand this date, April 14th, is the center of Thai New Year’s. It’s called Songkran which in English translates to people get drunk, throw water, then get on motor bikes to act like even bigger idiots. To combat this the Thai government was considering a law banning alcohol sales during Songkran. One legislature said, "It’s not alcohol that kills people it’s people that drink and then get on motor bike." Thai logic strikes again. This fight could be disrupted by the "red shirts" as they are demanding that their disgraced lying thieving former Premier now hiding in places unknown be returned to power.
The fight itself between Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (71-3-1) and. Julio Miranda (29-3-1) could be almost as interesting as the Thai political situation. They’ll fight for the "interim" WBC flyweight title as the "non interim title" belongs to Japan’s Daisuke Naito . Naito won the title in ’07 in a fight that Judge Cousin Bruce McTavish scored 116-113 for the Naito. The rematch ended in draw with each man getting one judges favor while the third judge called it a draw. A win here by Wonjongkam should set up a third battle with Naito.
Friday
At Buffalo Bill's Casino, Primm, NV
This should be another showcase for Yuriorkis Gamboa (14-0) the leader of the Cuba Connection. Gamboa gets a chance to enhance his reputation on the "sometimes popular" late night Showtime boxing series ShoBox. "Sometimes" because it usually comes on after his Lordship is counting whatever old people count in their sleep. One guess would be "next breaths". Jose Rojas (25-6-1) will be the opponent and is a boxer with a little back class. His only recent loss was to Chris John maybe the best at any weight. Rojas will make Gamboa work for at least a couple of rounds as his chin seem sturdy. Both fighters have addition incentive as they are fighting for the "WBA Ordinary World Featherweight Title." Gamboa is anything but ordinary.
At The Araneta Coliseum, Manila, The Philippines
Nonito Donaire vs. Raul Martinez
Many in boxing are waiting for Nonito Donaire (20-1) to equal his performance against Vic Darchinyan from of July ’07. Problem is that opponent Raul Martinez is no Darchinyan. Still a boxer that go’s 24-0 has done a lot of things correct and nothing wrong that counted. Martinez may lack the power to slow down Donair. He did KO Victor Proa in 1 last out but still…..would really like to see Donair against the top two in the division either Thailand’s Denkaovichit or Daisuke Naito.
Ulises Solis- Brian Viloria IBF Junior Fly
Most will acknowledge that Ulises Solis (28-1-2) is the best jr. flyweight around. At one time that tag line could have been used by vs. Brian "The Hawaii Punch" Viloria (24-2). He was on cruse control at 19-0 when the wheels fell off. He lost Omar Nino Romero with the following rematch being a "no contest". He then lost a close majority decision to Edgar Sosa and disappeared for almost a year. Now with 5 wins on the trot he gets another title shot. Solis should prevail but Viloria has heart to spare so an upset could be in the making even those this will be Solis 9th title defense.
RESULTS
AT THE SUN DOME, TAMPA
Jeff Lacy- Otis Griffin
Jeff Lacy is a honest hard working boxer. He paid his dues and now does his best to reap the rewards. His Friday night fight against Otis Griffin (19-4-2) was one of those "let’s get a win" deals. No problem. Then in steps a "boxing writer" and comes up with "Jeff Lacy is a risk taker. Never one to fight from the backseat, Lacy is most comfortable with his foot lodged firmly on the gas pedal, walking down his opponents like a beefed up BMW barreling down the autobahn. So rather than settle for the customary tune-up in the wake of the Taylor loss, Lacy chose to roll the dice instead." Nice prose but total Hogwash. He rolled loaded dice knowing the outcome. Still the final outcome was probably a little closer than it should have been. Lacy (25-2) got the majority decision win (96-94, 97-93,95-95) but there was nothing to indicate in his performance that’s he’s back at the top of his game. Otis Griffin at 19-6-2 should have been a "piece of cake" but proved to be week old Sheppard’s pie.
Las Vegas, NV
Paul Williams-Ronald "Winky" Wright
Last week I these spaces His Lordship wrote, "Truly a fight that no one is begging to see." The "fight" in question was "Paul Williams (36-1) against Winky Wright (51-4-1) at a major Las Vegas Casino. About the time that His Lordship was checking into the Bourbon Street Hotel/Restaurant in Bangkok, Kevin Iole the boxing writer for Yahoo.Com sports presented evidence the aging Master may have actually gotten something right.
"Ticket sales have been as scarce as willing opponents for Williams. Though nearly everyone in an official capacity denies it on the record, multiple credible sources have insisted that fewer than 2,000 tickets had been purchased. There have been weddings at "the same venue" that have attracted larger gatherings." Iole is a former boxing/golf/ sports writer, and all around good guy, for the daily Las Vegas Review Journal. He left the journal to join Yahoo Sport for money and the right to be objective. Hear, hear another honest objective boxing writer. Bourbon Street by the way has been the calling sport, under the direction of Doug Harrison, for other boxing great Dan Goossen and Cousin Bruce MacTavish. Cajun food in the heart of Bangkok.
As predicted this was a blow out for Paul Williams now 37-1 as Winky Wright was never in the fight from the opening bell. As the judges scores indicate (120-108,119-109,119-109) it was fight that proved nothing. Have to laugh at a writers comment "Williams’ punch output and pressure easily overwhelmed the defensive skills of Wright from the opening bell.." Usually Wrights defensive skills consist of holding. Stinkeroo.
Chris Arreola -Jameel McCline
Not a stinkeroo was the performance of heavyweight Chris Areolla (27-0) against Jameel McCline. Areolla seems to have solved his early round problems as he KO'd McCline in 4. Areolla's learning curve is going up as is his ability to meet the best in the heavyweight division. Couple of more fights and he'll be a real deal.
HIS LORDSHIP IN THAILAND
"Jeeves last week I mentioned that sports announcer Mr. Barry Tompkins was the announcer for the great fight card from Austin last weekend. The first time I was in Thailand was 1985. I was staying at the Tip Ching Hotel in Lampange. At 8AM I went down in the lobby to watch the greatest 3 round fight in history of boxing between Tommy "The Hitman" Hearns and "Marvelous" Marvin Hearns. Both gentlemen lived up to their nicknames. The TV announcer that night in Las Vegas Nevada was Barry Tompkins teaming with Al Bernstein Last weekend Hearns son, Ronald "The Chosen One" Hearns, lost his first fight by KO at the hands of big underdog "Lighting" Harry Joe Yorgey". How about that?
Due to the problems going in in Thailand this may be the last The Square Ring for a couple of weeks. Also spell check has gone on holiday so please excuse words spelled in an interesting manner. Despite all that....
. Cheewit dee khrup" |
