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Friday, June 27, 2014

Joe Louis' Devastating KO Over Lee Ramage: GIF Spotlight




Joe Louis had glowing things to say about Lee Ramage, and his masterful defensive skills. He met him early in his career, when a seasoned Ramage gave him fits until Louis' power ended him in the eight round. This GIF is from their second encounter, which was made very quickly, Louis blowing him out in only the second round. Louis remained highly impressed with Ramage, long after he himself became a seasoned veteran champion, comparing him favourably to Billy Conn! Notice referee Jeff "Duke" Kenworthy getting smacked in the face with the towel. The corner wanted to make sure. 



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Sunday, June 22, 2014

Nadjib Mohammedi VS Anatoliy Dudchenko: Dudchenko Takes A Beating!






The setup:

France's Nadjib Mohammedi was the former Light Heavyweight champion of France and the former Light Heavyweight champion of Europe, as well as, to no blame of his own, the champion of a joke world title that no one unaffiliated supports and I won't bother naming. He is 29 and has not lost since 2011. Anatoliy Dudchenko is 35. He had two back-to-back losses in 2007/2008 and has not lost since. The Ukrainian has fought almost exclusively in America, uniquely. Both fighters have a win column composed almost of unheralded opponents. Mohammedi, having fought almost exclusively in France (note the pattern), takes two of his three losses when he's traveled. Neither fighter has a background that makes them a strong hopeful for major world title hopes coming into this match. However, both have strung together double-digit win streaks coming in tonight. They may not be strong hopefuls but they are legitimate fighters. On paper, a good choice by NBC Sports, and a title eliminator.


The action:

In the beginning, the first three rounds, Dudchenko started out well enough. It was a competition. Dudchenko's style reminds me of a much lower level Vitali Klitschko. Mohammedi has a bit of trouble with Dudchenko's ranginess and jab. By the end of the second it's starting to turn very awkward, Dudchenko being spun stumbling headfirst into the ropes, grappling, some shoving, some leaning. Mohammedi does find his range once in the middle of the round and sets up a combination leaping left hook and right cross over top of Dudchenko's guard, left hook missing, right cracking flush. That was pretty nice but it's still mostly a struggle to get inside enough to land flush for the shorter man, that one right the exception.

Mohammedi keeps stalking and probing and they get tied up when he rushes in. Mohammedi is really trying to work out Dudchenko's leaning back from punches and keep-away jabs. Mohammedi is starting to land some more where he fires two, falls short with the first, reaches in with the second and connects. It's not a feint first, then a punch. It looks like both shots are meant for landing. They both follow through. He's making it work a bit through round three. A few times he gets Dudchenko backed to the ropes and does a fair job of taking advantage of having him stuck. Dudchenko clearly doesn't like it in close. Jesse Reid Senior warns Dudchenko in the corner not to let Mohammedi wrestle with him.

In round four, the competition ends. The beginning was some feeling out from both men but in the fourth Mohammadi is starting to plaster Dudchenko without concern. He's got Dudchenko timed and Dudchenko has nothing when Mohammedi is up on him. It's a beating now, not a fight. Mohammedi has adjusted and taken everything away from Dudchenko. Round five, Dudchenko still cannot find a way to land flush on Mohamedi and he has no defense to challenge him from getting in. He cannot fight on the back foot against this guy. He's getting swamped. The body language for Dudchenko looks awful. He turns away from Mohammedi once, stumbles helplessly back to the ropes as the smaller man rushes in; he's looking awful now, taking massive overhand bombs.

Dudchenko's not capable of planting his feet and catching Mohammedi coming in. No uppercuts, no check hooks, not even keep-away jabs now; he's got nothing to make Mohammedi respect him. This is getting bad. In the corner after the fifth, Jesse Reid says "This is your life. You've got to let your hands go. Look at me. Let your hands go!" but Mohammadi has him baffled and beaten. Dudchenko tries, he really does, lands a few flush shots in round six but it doesn't look like he has any power in them anymore. None that the crazily active Mohammedi is worried about, for sure. Another beating of a round suffered in six. Mohammedi pins Dudchenko to the ropes again in the beginning of round seven and batters him from both sides, smelling blood for rounds now and acting on it like a fighter should, up and down with hooks and uppercuts. The referee calls it. It's a GOOD CALL from referee Shawn Clark, who's done a good job in this match. Dudchenko just had no ability to defend himself from this. It was not in his arsenal to win this fight tonight. Dudchenko is marked up, bloodied, cut on the bridge of the nose, dominated. There was no point in letting it go, even considering Dudchenko didn't get taken off of his fight.

As Mohammedi struggles to pull a glove off, the commentator, Kenny Rice, gets off a good line, remarking that's the toughest thing he's had to do all night.


Summary and meaning: 

Dudchenko, at 35, never having won at a particularly high level, has pretty much had the last nail in the coffin of his championship hopes hammered in by Nadjib Mohammedi. Mohammedi made it very clear he wants the shot he earned against titlist Bernard Hopkins. Even at near fifty, and even with Mohammedi's clearly gutsy style, high stamina and youth, I think Hopkins is still too crafty for Mohammedi. Hopkins may yet be the smartest boxer on the face of the planet. Granted, you can never tell when a man is that age and Mohammedi is one hungry fighter with an ego to feed. But the difference in their levels of competition alone is as far apart as any could be with a title on the line, that I can think. Mohammedi did make a statement though, with the performance of a warrior, on NBC Sports. He got a big opportunity and shined. That cannot be denied. Mohammedi says he's the best and that's what a contender should believe or they've got no business bothering. Good for him. Congratulations on everything, Nadjib.



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Fight Night Boxing Weights: Rehydration Weights Listed in the 2000's





Our main page is getting too large for one post, so this page will be reserved for all of the unofficial weights we can collect for the 2000's alone. To go to our main page, please click this link: http://basementgymboxing.blogspot.com/2014/01/fight-night-boxing-weights-list-of.html


2009:

December:

Paul Williams VS Sergio Martinez I - Contested at Middleweight

Williams: 166
Martinez: 166


November: 

Ali Funeka VS Joan Guzman - Contested at Lightweight

Funeka: 152
Guzman: 149

Lucian Bute VS Librado Andrade - Contested at Super Middleweight

Bute: 182
Andrade: 185


Chad Dawson VS Glen Johnson II - Contested at Light Heavyweight

Dawson: 191
Johnson: 189

September:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Juan Manuel Marquez - Contested at Welterweight with a catch-weight in place which Mayweather could not or did not wish to make after all, coming in two pounds over the initially agreed upon 144-pound catch-weight limit and renegotiating with Marquez in order to do so. HBO's TOTT was read by commentator Jim Lampley and he mentioned that Marquez allowed his weight to be taken on the night of the fight but Lampley says: "Mayweather did not allow us to weigh him on our unofficial scale."

Mayweather: ???
Juan Manuel Marquez: 148 lbs

August:

Paulie Malignaggi VS Juan Diaz - Contested at Light Welterweight

Malignaggi: 149
Diaz: 145

Robert Guerrero VS Malcolm Klassen - Contested at Super Featherweight

Guerrero: 144
Klassen: 142


June:

Marcos Rene Maidana VS Victor Ortiz - Contested at Light Welterweight

Maidana: 149
Ortiz: 152

May:

Andre Berto VS Juan Urango - Contested at Welterweight

Berto: 155
Urango: 150

April:

Juan Manuel Lopez VS Gerry Penalosa - Contested at Super Bantamweight

Lopez: Official: 121.5 Unofficial: 131
Penalosa: Official: 121.75 Unofficial: 128



March:

Robert Guerrero VS Daud Yordan - Contested at Super Featherweight

Guerrero: 135
Yordan:  135


James Kirkland VS Joel Julio - Contested at Light Middleweight

Kirkland: 166
Julio:  167


February:

Juan Manuel Marquez VS Juan Diaz I -  Contested at Lightweight

Marquez: 140
Diaz: 139

Chris John VS Rocky Juarez I - Contested at Featherweight

John: 133
Juarez:  135 or 136, apologies, I couldn't make this out at the time I recorded this one and Jim Lampley didn't read it exactly when he read off HBO's TOTT. There is an upload on Youtube.com of this match and it's too blurry for me to be certain, even at the highest setting (480).

Sergio Martinez VS Kermit Cintron - Contested at Light Middleweight

Martinez: Official: 153.25 - Unofficial: 164
Cintron:   Official: 154 -      Unofficial: 164

January:

Shane Mosley VS Antonio Margarito - Contested at Welterweight

Mosley: 160
Margarito: 160


Andre Berto VS Luis Collazo - Contested at Welterweight

Berto: 160
Collazo: 155


2008:


December:


Manny Pacquiao VS Oscar De La Hoya - Contested at Welterweight

Pacquiao: 148.5
De La Hoya: 147

Juan Manuel Lopez VS Sergio Manuel Medina - Contested at Super Bantamweight

Lopez: 122 - 129
Medina: 122 - 138

November:


Ricky Hatton VS Paulie Malignaggi - Contested at Light Welterweight

Hatton: 152
Malignaggi: 149

October:

Bernard Hopkins VS Kelly Pavlik - Contested at Light Heavyweight, with a catch-weight limit of 170 pounds.

Hopkins: 180
Pavlik: 174

Jermain Taylor VS Jeff Lacy - Contested at Super Middleweight
HBO Broadcast

Taylor: Official: 167.5 - Unofficial:  176
Lacy:   Official: 167.5 - Unofficial: 181


September:


Juan Diaz VS Michael Katsidis - Contested at Lightweight


Diaz: 146
Katsidis: 150

Andre Berto VS Steve Forbes - Contested at Welterweight

Berto: 153.5
Forbes: 158


August:

Joshua Clottey VS Zab Judah - Contested at Welterweight
Clottey: 156
Judah: 147


June:

Manny Pacquiao VS David Diaz - Contested at Lightweight

Pacquiao: 147
Diaz: 148


Andre Berto VS Miguel Angel Rodriguez - Contested at Welterweight

Berto: 162
Rodriguez: 162

May:

Yuriorkis Gamboa VS Darling Jimenez - Contested at Super Featherweight, but with Jimenez coming in just over the limit at 131.

Gamboa: 140
Jimenez: 132


James Kirkland VS Eromosele Albert - Contested at Light Middleweight:

Kirkland: 158
Albert: 158


March:


Joel Casamayor VS Michael Katsidis - Contested at Lightweight

Casamayor: 140
Katsidis:  140

February:


Andre Berto VS Michel Trabant - Contested at Welterweight

Berto: 158
Trabant: 150



2007:

November:

Joan Guzman VS Humberto Soto - Contested at Super Featherweight

Guzman: 148
Soto: 135

Special note: Both men were noted as being about a quarter of a pound overweight, despite Soto barely rehydrating more than a few pounds. Commentator for HBO Bob Papa says it took Soto about twenty minutes to make the weight and Guzman about forty.

September:

Kelly Pavlik VS Jermain Taylor - Contested at Middleweight

Pavlik: 168
Taylor: 166


Andre Berto VS David Estrada - Contested at Welterweight

Berto: 154
Estrada: 155


July:


Paul Williams VS Antonio Margarito - Contested at Welterweight

Williams: 162
Margarito: 157

Michael Katsidis VS Czar Amonsot - Contested at Lightweight

Katsidis: 144.5
Amonsot: 146.5

Vernon Forrest VS Carlos Baldomir - Contested at Light Middleweight

Forrest: 160
Baldomir: 162


June:

Ricky Hatton VS Jose Luis Castillo - Contested at Light Welterweight

Hatton: 149
Castillo: 153

Andre Dirrell VS Curtis Stevens - Contested at Super Middleweight 

Dirrell: 168
Stevens: 175

May:

Kelly Pavlik VS Edison Miranda - Contested at Middleweight

Pavlik: 171
Miranda: 173

March:

Juan Manuel Marquez VS Marco Antonio Barrera - Contested at Super Featherweight

Marquez: 139
Barrera: 138

February:

Shane Mosley VS Luis Collazo - Contested at Welterweight

Mosley: 154
Collazo:  160

January:

Ricky Hatton VS Luis Collazo - Contested at Welterweight

Hatton: Official: 147 - Unofficial: 158
Collazo: Official: 147 - Unofficial: 156

2006:


December:

Andre Berto VS Miguel Figueroa - Contested at Welterweight

Berto: 158
Figueroa: 153


November:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Carlos Manuel Baldomir - Contested at Welterweight

Mayweather: 149
Baldomir: 162


Juan Manuel Marquez VS Jimrex Jaca - Contested at Featherweight

Marquez: 136
Jaca:  136

Manny Pacquiao VS Erik Morales III - Contested at Super Featherweight

Pacquiao: 144
Morales: 139

July:

Shane Mosley VS Fernando Vargas II - Contested at Light Middleweight

Mosley: 159
Vargas: 168

June:

Bernard Hopkins VS Antonio Tarver - Contested at Light Heavyweight

Hopkins: 182
Tarver: 187

May:

Ricky Hatton VS Luis Collazo - Contested at Welterweight

Hatton: 158
Collazo: 156

Jhonny Gonzalez VS Fernando Montiel - Contested at Bantamweight

Gonzalez: 130
Montiel: 127

April:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Zab Judah - Contested at Welterweight

Mayweather: 146 (same as official weigh-in weight-very rare)
Judah: 150

February:

Shane Mosley VS Fernando Vargas I - Contested at Light Middleweight

Mosley: 159
Vargas: 166

January: 

Manny Pacquiao VS Erik Morales II - Contested at Super Featherweight

Pacquiao: 140
Morales: 140



2005:


December: 

Jermain Taylor VS Bernard Hopkins II - Contested at Middleweight

Hopkins:169
Taylor: 169

November:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Sharmba Mitchell - Contested at Welterweight

Mayweather: 148
Mitchell: 155

September:

Manny Pacquiao VS Hector Velazquez - Contested at Super Featherweight

Pacquiao: 140
Velazquez: 140

Erik Morales VS Zahir Raheem - Contested at Lightweight
Morales: 148
Raheem: 150 

Marco Antonio Barrera VS Robbie Peden - Contested at Super Featherweight

Barrera: 130 (it was remarked on the broadcast about the rarity of not going up in weight)
Peden: 143

July:

Jermain Taylor VS Bernard Hopkins I - Contested at Middleweight

Hopkins: 168
Taylor: 171

June:



May: 

Felix Trinidad VS Ronald Wright - Contested at Middleweight 

Trinidad: 169
Wright: 168

March: 

Erik Morales VS Manny Pacquiao I - Contested at Super Featherweight

Morales: 140
Pacquiao: 139



February:

Miguel Cotto VS DeMarcus Corley - Contested at Light Welterweight

Cotto: 157
Corley: 140


January:



Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Henry Bruseles - Contested at Light Welterweight

Mayweather: 142
Bruseles: 150

2004:


October:

Felix Trinidad VS Ricardo Mayorga - Contested at Middleweight

Trinidad: 168
Mayorga: 165

June: 


Marco Antonio Barrera VS Paulie Ayala - Contested at Featherweight


Barrera: 130
Ayala: 135

May:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS DeMarcus Corley - Contested at Light Welterweight

Mayweather: 145
Corley: 144


2003: 

November:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Phillip Ndou - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 140
Ndou: 147

September:

Shane Mosley VS Oscar De La Hoya II (rematch/second meeting) - Contested at Light Middleweight

De La Hoya: 158
Mosley: 161


July: 

Manny Pacquiao VS Emmanuel Lucero - Contest at Super Bantamweight

Pacquiao: 135
Lucero: 134

April:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Victoriano Sosa - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 140
Sosa: 145

James Toney VS Vassiliy Jirov - Contested at Cruiserweight

Toney: 196
Jirov:  194


January:

Joel Casamayor VS Nate Campbell - Contested at Lightweight

Casamayor: 141
Campbell: 135


2002:



December:


Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Jose Luis Castillo (II) - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 138
Castillo: 147



June:

Manny Pacquiao VS Jorge Eliecer Julio - Contested at Super Bantamweight

Pacquiao: 129
Julio: 130

May:

Diosbelys Hurtado VS Randall Bailey - Contested at Light Welterweight

Hurtado: Official: 140 - Unofficial: 151
Bailey: Official: 139.5 - Unofficial: 149

April:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Jose Luis Castillo (I) - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 138.5
Castillo: 147.5



2001:


November:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Jesus Chavez - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 137.5
Chavez: 136

June:

Manny Pacquiao VS Lehlo Ledwaba - Contested at Super Bantamweight

Pacquiao: 131
Ledwaba: 135

May:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Carlos Hernandez - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 139
Hernandez: 137


January:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Diego Corrales - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 136.5
Corrales: 146

2000:

December:

Bernard Hopkins VS Antwun Echols - Contested at Middleweight

Hopkins: 166
Echols: 163


October:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Emanuel Burton (Augustus) - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 139
Burton: 140




September


Erik Morales VS Kevin Kelley - Contested at Featherweight

Morales: 130
Kelley: 132

March:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Gregorio Vargas - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather:  139.5
Vargas: 141

February:

Oscar De La Hoya VS Derrell Coley - Contested at Welterweight

De La Hoya: 154
Coley: 151

Source: Sources for all matches are during the fight broadcast's tale of the tape unless otherwise noted.


Post comments for any potential corrections or requests, please.



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Fight Night Boxing Weights: Rehydration Weights Listed in the 1990's





Our main page is getting too large for one post, so this page will be reserved for all of the unofficial weights we can collect for the 1990's alone. To go to our main page, please click this link: http://basementgymboxing.blogspot.com/2014/01/fight-night-boxing-weights-list-of.html

1999:


May:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Justin Juuko - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 136
Juuko: 140

February:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Carlos Alberto Ramon Rios - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 137
Rios: 133

Felix Trinidad VS Pernell Whitaker - Contested at Welterweight

Trinidad: 155
Whitaker: 155


1998:

December:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Angel Manfredy - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 138
Manfredy: 139

November:

Kostya Tszyu VS Diosbelys Hurtado - Contested at Light Welterweight

Tszyu: 157
Hurtado: 156

September: 


Erik Morales VS Junior Jones - Contested at Super Bantamweight

Morales: 134
Jones:  139


Source: Sources for all matches are during the fight broadcast's tale of the tape, issued by the broadcasting channel, unless otherwise noted.

Post comments for any potential corrections or requests, please.






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Friday, June 20, 2014

Eddie Chambers & Tyson Fury Rap Fist Bump: GIF Spotlight




During an interview with Daily Mail, Tyson Fury and Eddie Chambers have fun talking about plans to be a rap duo. I have no idea if they're serious. I hope they are. I think.





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Thursday, June 19, 2014

McWilliams Arroyo VS Froilan Saludar: Start Slow, End Fast, Win





The set up: 

Years removed from his lone loss and on a streak of three kayo victories in a row, Flyweight prospect McWilliams Arroyo comes to fight in front of his home country against undefeated Filipino prospect Froilan "The Sniper" Saludar. On the broadcast, it is said Saludar has never been down or in trouble. But, while he is nicknamed as a puncher and coming off an early knockout victory, interestingly, before that victory were four straight decision wins against unheralded opponents. This is curious, for a fighter who likes to punch in bunches and is said to only need one to put a man away. While it is not currently listed so on boxrec, commentator Danny Jacobs says this is an IBF eliminator of some sort.



The action:

A very strange first round as Arroyo, the hometown fighter, seems to have none of the fire and excitement his opponent has. He is dominated the first round and doesn't even seem particularly interested. Either he's a slow starter, something is wrong with him or Saludar has him baffled with his ranginess and speed. It was about a minute into the second when you got even the slightest sense of what was to come. A right hook to Saludar's body, left hook to his head lands hard. A combination that staggered Saludar just a bit. It's clear when Arroyo throws, he throws with bad intentions.

With about a minute to go, Saludar, fighting every bit like a Pacquiao fan, jumping in and out with quick combinations, eats a flush left hook from Arroyo, who probably understands how badly he's being outworked and is trying to land hard enough to give his man something to respect. He is at a speed disadvantage. He's trying to punch inside flurries coming at him. About 10 seconds later, the same punch lands and Saludar is laid out on his back, breathing the way a man breathes when he's been bulldozed. He tries but cannot recover. As they help him up he is disappointed but grinning a what-can-you-do grin.

Summary and meaning:

While he started slowly, Arroyo finished quickly. Wow. The power on display is impressive. I like Saludar and think he'd be welcomed onto another card soon. I don't think he can be written off as a hopeful yet. He started very well. Arroyo is now on a twelve-fight winning streak, stretching back to 2010. He's hot. Bring him back soon.



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Cesar Seda VS Alex Rangel: Seda Remains Relevant





The set up: 

Cesar Seda, who had only two losses in 27 matches, has only lost to top shelf fighters in Leo Santa Cruz and Omar Narvaez, both of whom were undefeated fighters when he faced them. A Puerto Rican contender in front of a Puerto Rican crowd against Alex Rangel, a Mexican near-prospect. Rangel is coming off a stoppage loss but it is a late-round stoppage and his only loss by knockout. Rangel is a tough, little scrapper who likes to get into range and let his hands go. I wouldn't call him a real prospect, but he is in no way a pushover, and maybe even just a notch under what you need to be, to be considered a legitimate prospect at this stage of his career. Rangel enters into hostile territory, on paper. Perhaps the crowd is too happy to have Felix Trinidad in attendance to be all that hostile though.


The action:

The match starts off a bit sloppy. The first round alone sees two non-punch-related trips to the canvas. Rangel gets put down on a hard shoulder bump and shove from the bigger, stronger Seda and Seda visits the canvas on a wild, missed swing. I'm sure he wanted to see if he could get an early blowout in front of his people. After Seda begins to calm down, he basically sets the tone for the fight with his confidence that Rangel cannot hurt him and cannot outbox him. Once he seems confident in this, he does a fine job in never letting the momentum slip into Rangel's favour. Seda was bigger, stronger and just a bit smarter, knowing when to step back out of Rangel's range to take control, knowing that he can step into any exchange, any time, and Rangel wasn't going to get the best of it.

A fair UD10, for Seda.

The summary and meaning:

It was competitive enough to be a good watch, without being so competitive as to make Seda's stock drop. It's a nice showing from both men with one being a clear cut higher than the other. A far better matched fight than the opener and much appreciated on this card. Without it, we didn't have much sustained boxing substance to the broadcast event, which suffered multiple broadcast errors throughout the card. Two false breaks into a commercial, and one video outage while the audio continued, all before the main event. It was not without trouble, traveling to Puerto Rico, for FS1, tonight. Seda is still a relevant contender and Rangel maintains a solid level in the game. He may not be a prospect but he's a respectable fighter. Both would do well in future televised events, albeit at different levels.



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Prichard Colon VS Carlos Garcia: FS1 Opens Show With Puerto Rican Showcase Match






The set up: 

With Felix Trinidad, recent Hall of Fame inductee, in attendance, supporting a young Puerto Rican, Light Middleweight prospect in Prichard Colon, FS1 put a terrible mismatch showcase fight on tonight. They dished up something that no one should have thought would be a good match on paper. This can be okay, when you have just started, in your opening matches, but considering Prichard's nine victories and victories only, I really didn't like this match for television. If I were managing him, I'd have liked that match just fine. But tuning in as a viewer, it left a sour taste in my mouth. Prichard Colon came to the ring with 9 knockout victories in 9 fights and his opponent is Carlos Garcia, a young Puerto Rican journeyman with a lot of experience but more losses than wins and having suffered six, count them, six knockout losses. Again, I just don't like this kind of fight being televised. Is it part of the business? Sure. There's nothing unusual here and I understand it's part of the sport but I don't think any of us tune into the live fights to see every grungy thing that's part and parcel of boxing careers. There should be a minimum allowable likelihood of risk in television matches and this one didn't meet the level I think that should be. Leave this type of match off of the broadcast cards, please, FS1.


The action and outcome:

How did Colon look against the predictably over-matched opponent? I thought he looked a little ponderous with his hand speed, fairly upright in his style, but professionally patient, and, most tellingly about him and the support for him, he looked brutally, punishingly heavy-handed. By the fifth round stoppage for Colon's tenth straight kayo win, it was hard to find a minute of the fight where Garcia didn't look to be hurting from what Colon had for him. I'd wager, despite having seemingly all the right guys to knockout, that Colon's power is very real and the reason he is being set up for a showcase on television like this.

What it means to me:

You fight who they put in front of you. I don't knock Colon for building his record like you are supposed to. This is a business as well as a sport and that's the business model. I do want to see Colon again, but with no less than a winning record journeyman at the least. He's definitely ready to step up his opposition. While it's tough to call this a test, Garcia was spirited and experienced if nothing else, so if it was a test, Colon passed with flying colours and is more than ready for tougher tests. For Garcia? Spirit alone cannot make up for his inability to hang at this level. No disrespect to his effort but I don't want to see Garcia back on these broadcasts getting smacked around by someone we know he shouldn't be in with. Sports should be sporting. This was taking advantage of a guy trying to earn a living more than sport, I think. Stamp it
"Not suitable for television," FS1.




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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Larry Holmes Demonstrates His Jabbing Technique On Johnny Nelson: GIF Spotlight




Larry Holmes demonstrates his jab with Johnny Nelson on Ringside-Find this interview and watch it. It's good stuff.






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Monday, June 16, 2014

List of Fights Which Had No Unofficial Weights Listed On Their Tale of the Tape



This page is a complimentary page to the unofficial weights page. The purpose is to prevent anyone from a wild-goose chase to find information that was not released. I will be updating it with as many fights as I come across. The reason why it is only HBO is simply that they are the only channel who goes to the trouble of trying to regularly obtain this information, that I am aware.

Edit: Because Showtime events are trying to include these more in recent years, I will begin adding Showtime events for those interested. If you enjoy the work that we're doing to make this reference page, any sharing would be appreciated. Thanks to anyone for their interest.

Edit: The unofficial weights listings have carried over in the very welcomed Premier Boxing Champions Broadcasts, so we will include those now.


2018:

November: 

Teofimo Lopez VS Mason Menard - Contested at Lightweight
(ESPN broadcast, from Madison Square Garden Theater, New York City, New York, USA)

I saw no ESPN TOTT, though I may be mistaken. Both men officially list on Boxrec as weighing in at 135.

Isaac Dogboe VS Emanuel Navarrete - Contested at Super Bantamweight
(ESPN broadcast, from Madison Square Garden Theater, New York City, New York,

Dogboe: Officially at 120.8
Navarrete: Officially at 122

Vasiliy Lomachenko VS Jose Pedraza - Contested at Lightweight 
(ESPN broadcast, from Madison Square Garden Theater, New York City, New York,

Lomachenko's ESPN TOTT had him officially at 134.4 and Pedraza's had him at 134.2.


October: 


Heather Hardy VS Shelly Vincent - Contested at Featherweight
(HBO broadcast - Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA)

Official weights from HBO's TOTT:

Hardy: 124.6
Vincent: 125.4

Alberto Machado VS Yuandale Evans - Contested at Super Featherweight
(HBO broadcast - Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA)

Official weights from HBO's TOTT:

Machado: 130
Evans: 129.4

Danny Jacobs VS Sergiy Derevyanchenko - Contested at Middleweight
(HBO broadcast - Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA)


Official weights from HBO's TOTT:

Jacobs: 159.6
Derevyanchenko:159.4



September:

Saul Alvarez VS Gennady Golovkin - Contested at Middleweight
(HBO broadcast - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA)

Alvarez: 159.4, officially
Golovkin: 159.6, officially

April:

Danny Jacobs VS Maciej Sulecki - Contested at Middleweight
HBO Broadcast - Barclays Center, New York City, New York, USA


March:

Dmitry Bivol VS Sullivan Barrera - Contested at Light Heavyweight
HBO Broadcast - Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, New York, USA

Sergey Kovalev VS Igor Mikhalkin - Contested at Light Heavyweight
HBO Broadcast - Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, New York, USA

January:

Top Rank/ESPN broadcast for Jerwin Ancajas VS Israel Gonzalez and Gilberto Ramirez VS Habib Ahmed Card chose not to use fight-night weights for anyone. A shame, because I was quite curious about Ramirez/Ahmed's difference.

2017:

December:


Miguel Roman VS Orlando Salido - Contested at Lightweight

HBO listed them only as both 131 pounds after some strange questions about Salido's first attempt. Boxrec has Salido currently as I type this at 131 and Roman at 130.5. This was announced as and scheduled to be a Super Featherweight division fight. I'm marking it for what it was according to their overweight marks-Lightweight.

Yves Ulysse Junior VS Cletus Seldin/Gary O'Sullivan VS Antoine Douglas/Billy Joe Saunders VS David Lemieux Card
HBO Broadcast, from Quebec:

Yves Ulysse Junior VS Cletus Seldin - Contested at a catch-weight of 142 pounds.
Ulysse Junior officially came in at 141.2, while Seldin came in at 141.6.

Gary O'Sullivan VS Antoine Douglas - Contested at Middleweight
Douglas officially weighed in at 159.2 and Sullivan at 158.8.


Billy Joe Saunders VS David Lemieux - Contested at Middleweight
Saunders and Lemieux were both officially 160. 

November:

Yuriorkis Gamboa VS Jason Sosa - Contested at contracted weight of 131, technically, it was at Lightweight, but it was between Super Featherweight campaigners. Sosa had to pay a penalty for being unable to make weight, even upon stripping naked. He was up by only two-tenths of a pound.




HBO Broadcast - Madison Square Garden Theater, New York

Sergey Kovalev VS Vyacheslav Shabranskyy - Contested at Light Heavyweight
HBO Broadcast, Madison Square Garden Theater, New York
 
Cletus Seldin VS Roberto Ortiz - Contested just inside welterweight, but both thought to be Light Welterweight campaigners
HBO Broadcast, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale

Danny Jacobs VS Luis Arias - Contested at Middleweight
HBO Broadcast, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale

October:

Ryota Murata VS Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam Card
Top Rank on ESPN
broadcast from Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japa

2016:

January: 


2015:

June:

Andre Ward VS Paul Smith - Contested at Light Heavyweight class, catch-weight limit of 172 pounds. Smith misses the agreed upon mark somehow at 176.4, renegotiating with Ward with penalty money paid out, to missing a renegotiated rehydration limit the morning of the fight to be no more than 181 and hitting 184, renegotiating with penalty again, then having Ward lopsidedly beat him up and give him back his penalty money. So, Smith is no less than 184 in the ring that night, presumably, and almost certainly more if Smith was trying at all. A total mess, professionally speaking.

(Roc Nation Sports/Throne Boxing/BET broadcast)

RNS commentator Barry Tompkins says Andre Ward thinks 168 is still best for him right now, even though it's "a little bit of a struggle".

TOTT for Ward/Smith, no rehydration listed by RNS.


Antonio Nieves VS Stephon Young - Contested at Super Bantamweight
(Roc Nation Sports/Throne Boxing/BET broadcast)


Miguel Cotto VS Daniel Geale - Contested at the Middleweight class, but limited to a catch-weight of 158 pounds, as requested by Miguel Cotto's camp.

Cotto: Official: 153.6 - Unofficial: HBO could not get Cotto's unofficial weight, which is normal for Cotto.
Geale: Official: 157 - Unofficial: 182 - This is a noteworthy gain and Jim Lampley made special note that it was with Geale's street clothes on, but obviously still massive.  Lampley guesses it's more like 175 in boxing gear but that seems a little low for the difference, to me.

Jesus Marcelo Andres Cuellar VS Vic Darchinyan - Contested at Featherweight
(PBC Card, partially broadcast on NBC and mostly broadcast on NBC Sports, no TOTT was shown, though there was one for the earlier broadcast of Robert Guerrero VS Aaron Martinez with a rehydration weight)

May: 

James DeGale VS Andre Dirrell - Contested at Super Middleweight

Javier Fortuna VS Bryan Vasquez - Contested at Super Featherweight
(PBC Card on Spike Channel)

Amir Khan VS Chris Algieri - Contested at Welterweight
(PBC Card on Spike Channel)

Edwin Rodriguez VS Craig Baker - Contested at Cruiserweight (just above Light Heavyweight, both presumed to be campaigning light heavyweights)
(PBC Card on NBC Sports, PBC Post-Fight coverage)


Danny O'Connor VS Chris Gilbert:

(PBC Card on NBC Sports, PBC Post-Fight coverage)

Jonathan Guzman VS Christian Esquivel:

(PBC Card on NBC Sports, PBC Post-Fight coverage)

April:

Marcus Browne VS Aaron Pryor Junior
This was tied in with the Premiere Boxing Champions in an NBC Sports broadcast. It is listed here because some of PBC matches have actually done unofficial weights, which I praise them for.

Felix Diaz VS Gabriel Bracero
PBC Post-Fight Broadcast on NBC Sports

Andy Lee VS Peter Quillin - Contested at middleweight, but with Quillin weighing a half pound over, so technically at super middleweight, but very negligible difference.
(PBC Broadcast)

Artur Beterbiev VS Gabriel Campillo:
PBC Broadcast

Adonis Stevenson VS Sakio Bika:
PBC Broadcast

March:


Glen Tapia VS Daniel Dawson: 
HBO Broadcast, from what I could tell, they mistakenly didn't show the TOTT and did not vocally mention about rehydration weights. It remains to be seen if the weights were available or if they simply didn't mention them and failed to show the TOTT image.

Shawn Porter VS Erick Bone:
(PBC Broadcast on Spike Channel)

Andre Berto VS Josesito Lopez: 
(PBC Broadcast on Spike Channel)


Amnat Ruenroeng VS Zou Shiming: 

HBO Broadcast, TOTT didn't cover rehydration weights

February: 

Gennady Golovkin VS Martin Murray:

Although listing the official weights more specifically than Boxrec currently has it, at Golovkin with 158.9 and Murray at 159.9, there were no unofficial weights listed on HBO's TOTT.

2014:

November: 

David Lemieux VS Gabe Rosado

Hugo Centeno Junior VS James De La Rosa

Thomas Dulorme VS Hank Lundy

July:

Gennady Golovkin VS Daniel Geale

Gilberto Ramirez VS  Junior Talipeau


June:

Demetrius Andrade VS Brian Rose

Chris Algieri VS Ruslan Provodnikov

Miguel Cotto VS Sergio Martinez



May:


Nonito Donaire VS Simpiwe Vetyeka


March:


Julio Cesar Chavez Junior VS Brian Vera II - Contested at Super Middleweight

"And, again, there are no unofficial weights tonight, because, most likely, Julio Cesar Chavez Junior has not agreed to step on the scale."

~Jim Lampley, during the broadcast of the tale of the tape.

2013:

November:

Gennady Golovkin VS Curtis Stevens

August:

Sergey Kovalev VS Nathan Cleverly - Contested at Light Heavyweight

May:


Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Robert Guerrero - Contested at Welterweight
(Showtime)

March:

Keith Thurman VS Jan Zaveck - Contested at Welterweight

January: 

Gennady Golovkin VS Gabriel Rosado - Contested at Middleweight
(HBO Card)

2011:

December:

Brandon Rios VS John Murray


November:

James Kirkland VS Alfredo Angulo - Contested at Light Middleweight
Angulo's weight was released by HBO commentator Jim Lampley, however, not Kirkland's. Jim said:

"Alfredo Angulo unofficially weighs 163 tonight and the people in Kirkland's camp would not let us know what is his unofficial weight."

June:

Adrien Broner VS Jason Litzau - Contested at Super Featherweight

Saul Alvarez VS Ryan Rhodes - Contested at Light Middleweight

2010:

December:

Bernard Hopkins VS Jean Pascal I (first meeting) - Contested at Light Heavyweight

Showtime's Tale of the Tape did not include an unofficial weight.



2008:

May

Oscar De La Hoya VS Steve Forbes - Contested at Light Middleweight Division, with a 150 pound catchweight limit

January: 

Roy Jones Junior VS Felix Trinidad - Contested at Light Heavyweight class, with a catch-weight limit of 170 pounds

2007:

December:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Ricky Hatton:

July:

Bernard Hopkins VS Ronald Wright - Contested at Light Heavyweight class, with a catch-weight limit of 170 pounds

May:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Oscar De La Hoya - Contested at Light Middleweight

March:

Mikkel Kessler VS Librado Andrade

February:


Paulie Malignaggi VS Edner Cherry - Contested at Light Welterweight

2006:

March:

Miguel Cotto VS Gianluca Branco - Contested at Light Welterweight

2005:

September:

Miguel Cotto VS Ricardo Torres- Contested at Light Welterweight

2004:

June:

Oscar De La Hoya VS Felix Sturm - Contested at Middleweight


2002:

September:

Oscar De La Hoya VS Fernando Vargas - Contested at Light Middleweight

2001:


September:

Bernard Hopkins VS Felix Trinidad - Contested at Middleweight

1997:

April:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Bobby Giepert - Contested at Lightweight (HBO)

1994:

March:

Oscar De La Hoya VS Jimmi Bredahl - Contested at Super Featherweight

James Toney VS Tim Littles - Contested at Super Middleweight

1993:

Pernell Whitaker VS Buddy McGirt - Contested at Welterweight



Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing

Sunday, June 15, 2014

The Aaron Pryor Psych Out: GIF Spotlight










(Aaron Pryor putting the evil eye on the great Alexis Arguello before their first classic match)







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Basement Gym Boxing

Demetrius Andrade VS Brian Rose: A cringeworthy mismatch but a sensational performance







During this completely uncompetitive HBO opening bout, with a major world title on the line, I found myself bouncing back and forth between a negative and a positive. On one hand, I found it hard to watch how painfully unable to compete it was for the United Kingdom's former British Light Middleweight Champion Brian Rose and how much damage he was taking. On the other hand, I had to appreciate how sensational Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade looked.

There were times when Andrade was coming up on ESPN where I watched him and thought that his style was just not built for the professional ranks (he has a huge amateur background) and that he would likely fail if he fought at the world level, due to being so deeply stuck in an amateur style mindset. But, tonight, he seemed to be a fully matured, masterclass professional boxer. It may have been, of course, Brian Rose's level that flattered Andrade but even skeptics of Andrade should admit that everything was firing on all cylinders. He was actually a joy to watch. As much of a joy to watch as Rose was a sad spectacle. One side, all sharpness and polish and the other side almost all hesitance and akin to a fish flopping around out of water and getting batted across the floor by a playfully mean feline.

Some fighters that use a lot defensive angles, the slick, fast fighters, fighters with the speed and maneuverability of an Andrade, are so satisfied with their superiority that they spend all night potshotting and then hanging back to admire their work and never feel the need to press the issue and try and get a stoppage. That's fine with me. Not as a viewer-because it's rarely fun to watch-but on the terms of what's acceptable in an athletic competition, I understand that judgment call. It's a strategy. And with some fighters, it's even the only strategy that makes sense for them. But, what Andrade did tonight, taking full advantage of his speed and skill superiority to puncuate his prowess and go for a stoppage, that's what made it a performance, as opposed to a pointless mismatch. Rose had no business with Andrade and Andrade wouldn't let him get away with challenging him without, well, actually giving him a challenge. Andrade took it upon himself to turn pointless mismatch into a showcase with a point. The point being that he's the goods. He's the goods and he needs the chance to prove that he's not just a man with a major world title. He deserves the opportunity to prove that he's the best Light Middleweight on the planet.

Summary: Andrade used all his ability to put combinations together and did not play it safe tonight. The fans and HBO should be happy with this. Not because it was a good fight but because one guy put on a great performance. I don't want to kick Brian Rose when he's down. Some may say he didn't try hard enough. I think he was just in too far over his head to know what to do or how to try and win. I can't blame a guy for that. But I can say that for his own health, he shouldn't be fighting at this level. He could've been ruined by this match for good. Thankfully, he had a referee in Michael Griffin who recognised it was time to step in before a medical emergency. HBO would do well to stick with Andrade and try to get him in with someone who can push him further next. Floyd Mayweather's age and being simultaneously the real number one Welterweight and Light Middleweight champion means it's unlikely he'll be offering a shot to Demetrius Andrade, but Andrade's hat is at least in the ring, whether anyone likes it or not. 







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Saturday, June 14, 2014

Chris Algieri VS Ruslan Provodnikov: You will remember Algieri's name now





After the unsurprisingly disastrous first round Chris Algieri suffered, it became completely apparent that, as most boxing fans had feared, this was just too much of a step up, too soon. With no amateur background, and many fans not having remembered his name after his excellent showing against an unheralded opponent on ESPN just this year, Chris Algieri walked into the lion's den and began to get ripped apart by the lion, as the majority suspected he would. A viscious left hook to the eye put him down hard and he took a knee later in the round. A 10-7 deficit, a rapidly swelling eye and a sign that he knew he couldn't handle it.

Except, it was an illusion. He took the knee because he had the presence of mind to do so. He got his bearings. He got his rhythm. He weathered enormous shots from the relentless pressure fighting titlist, the "Siberian Rocky". He moved, he jabbed and popped Provodnikov's head back, he danced, he hung in there at the world class like a real contender. Did he win? By split decision. Did my jaw drop? Yep. I was actually surprised he got the nod on the cards. But the long tabulation at the end of the fight for the scores are rarely a good sign of anything at all. It's usually time for bickering about corruption, in my experience. Some might call this a hometown type of decision.

After my initial surprise and displeasure, I realised that I didn't really think it was a robbery. I came around quickly. It was just unexpected. There were so many rounds in this match that seemed to hinge on Algieri's scoring more and Provodnikov's scoring harder, with punches that simply always seemed to hurt more. The entire fight looked like no matter how well Algieri scored, he was getting broken down. Algieri had moments where he boxed beautifully from the outside, keeping the stubby Provodnikov from landing some frightening looking but wide left hooks that had everything he could use on them. He didn't acquit himself badly on the inside either. Provodnikov, as I see him, is always most potent from mid-range, despite many always labeling pressure fighters as inside fighters, and Algieri did his darnedest to keep him out of that mid-range. Algieri is no dummy. He can adjust.

The weirdness of this match is that you will rarely ever see a fight where almost all the most damaging blows and practically every sign of that damage goes one way, yet have it fairly be judged as thoroughly competitive. Now, I don't mean to suggest that Algieri only scored with shoe-shining punches and didn't land anything with authority. He landed plenty with authority, but I'd say no veteran eye would've worried much for Provodnikov's safety at any time and nearly any sane and compassionate person had to be worried about Algieri's, from the effect of the punches he took. How I could watch a match and see that the momentum rarely ever shifted in Algieri's favour but ended being as competitive as possible, I'd never have guessed.

Yet again, it was a close match that could've gone Provodnikov's way, that I scored his way, but that he lost. I did score, narrowly, both this match and the Herrera match for Provodnikov, but neither was a robbery, I don't believe. Just surprising. Congratulations to Chris Algieri for keeping a cool head under fire that I seriously doubt he's seen before and surviving as bad a first round as any guy in a winning effort is likely to suffer and just being beautifully talented at something to take a step up like this and have the late blooming career he's had. This puts him on the map and attaches a major world title to his name. He's in history now. And to Ruslan, the guy must have had surgery to remove his whining bone before we ever met him. He never complains about anything. He just basically says it's not a good style for him and whatever. He's the most secure, mature guy I may have ever seen, if the translator's gave it to me straight!


To sum up: HBO, don't let either of these fellows go anywhere. 





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Basement Gym Boxing

 
Thanks for stopping by our place. Here are some other pages you might enjoy:

Chris Algieri VS Emmanuel Taylor - Algieri Proves Ready For A Bigger Name

Fight Preparation Stories: Ruslan Provodnikov & Cinderella Man Quote Spotlight

Wladimir Klitschko Is Disgusted By Your Dirty Dancing: GIF Spotlight

 

Friday, June 13, 2014

Fight Preparation Stories: Ruslan Provodnikov & Cinderella Man Quote Spotlight





"After a big lunch, Ruslan watches the film Cinderella Man, a ritual he practices before every fight."

~Captioned in HBO's "2 Days" episode on Ruslan Provodnikov, chronicling the two days leading up to the Mike Alvarado match.

This has been airing, as Provodnikov gets another chance to show off his devastating style against a slicker styled and lesser known Chris Algieri this Saturday night. I thought I'd spotlight this quote. Of course, Cinderella Man is a film much maligned by old-time boxing fans-as much as it was praised as a great mainstream film- for its unrealistic but dramatically useful portrayal of beloved heavyweight champion Max Baer. Baer came off in the film as a dull bad guy, as opposed to the ebullient, affable, comedic real life figure he was, in order to be the big, bad obstacle for protagonist Jimmy Braddock.

In short, he was a tool in the film. Take that as literal or slang. Either fits. It's unfortunate that the Baer portrayal is a sticking point, because if you take that away, I think you've got an entertaining bit of boxing schmaltz and if you can't like it because of that one issue, you probably at least wanted to like it. Either way, apparently, one of this generation's best action fighters uses it to mentally prepare himself. "The Siberian Rocky" watches a boxing film before all of his fights, and that film is Cinderella Man. If that's not ironic, I don't know what is!



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Basement Gym Boxing



Thanks for stopping by our place! Here are some other pages you might enjoy:

Damage Report, With Ruslan Provodnikov

Ali is mercilessly beaten by Ruth Buzzi 

Bernard Hopkins stares down Don King at a weigh-in, after years of animosity 

Tex Cobb Licks The Bride: GIF Spotlight



One of the great characters of boxing, former heavyweight contender, and go-to tough guy actor for bit parts aplenty, Randall "Tex" Cobb licks the bride after crashing a wedding as villain of the week on Highlander, in 1994.










Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing


Thanks for stopping by our place. Here are some other pages you might enjoy:

Joe Frazier Likes What He Sees - Boxing Forumite Reaction GIF Spotlight

George Chuvalo Gets Slapped & Insulted: Reaction GIF Spotlight

Muhammad Ali Slowly Claps: Reaction GIF Spotlight

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Benny Hinn "Heals" Evander Holyfield: GIF Spotlight








Back when Evander Holyfield was diagnosed with a heart malfunction, Benny Hinn, the notorious fundraiser and faith healer, got a shot at some attention. This GIF is from the Fox Sports Behind The Glory documentary on Holyfield, showing Hinn healing Holyfield and some other lucky folks.









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Basement Gym Boxing

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Ievgen Khytrov VS Chris Chatman: Chatman goes out on his shield


ESPN's Friday Night Fights this past week aired during the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction clamor and brought out the stars even for a smaller card. Present were:

Audience:

Announced before the first match and on camera:
1. Mike Tyson
2. Zab Judah
3. Rosie Perez
4. Andre Ward
5. Oscar De La Hoya

 
For interviews and commentating on behalf of ESPN: Nigel Collins, Teddy Atlas & Todd Grisham
Also on the broadcast as Teddy's demonstration guest was Aaron Pryor.


The setup: Ievgen "The Ukrainian Lion" Khytrov, former Olympian and young Middleweight prospect VS southpaw veteran road warrior of the Light Middleweight and Middleweight division Chris Chatman. In short, Chatman was looking to be set up as a showcase opponent for Khytrov.

The fight: Chatman does not take willful part in showcases for his opponents. His punching technique may not be the most surgical but not a rat's rear is given to who is supposed to be winning this match. He lets his hand go immediately and staggered the Ukrainian in the first round, almost knocking him down. The referee warns Khytrov about shoving Chatman around, probably out of frustration after getting staggered. The width of Chatman's shots probably didn't do him any favours over the rest of the round as he may have gotten overexcited and sloppier, thinking he could take him out for a big upset.

As the fight progresses, Chatman's hooks getting wider, Khytrov's enormous amateur pedigree starting to show against the awkward southpaw, the fight is still sloppy. Khytrov shoves Chatman down on the ropes again and it's rightfully ruled to not be a knockdown. He's testing the ref's patience now. He gets another warning.

Chatman is flailing punches in round three and it looks like he might be tiring but he is still putting everything he's got into this match when Khytrov lands a fantastic, straight right, short counter left hook combination and that hook really lands on the button and puts the smaller man on his back. Chatman gets up but the ref, probably rightfully, rules him too incapacitated to try and continue. Khytrov's hand gets raised in victory, Olympic rings tattooed on his bicep, happy. He did not start well, but he finished in style. TKO3.


Summary: Khytrov is fan-friendly but the defensive holes make it look to me like he's not ready to advance beyond this level just yet. I'd like to see him again and he's recommended viewing for casual fans for certain.






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Basemnt Gym Boxing

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Tevin Farmer VS Emanuel Gonzalez: Farmer Dominates & Derails Opponent




The main event on FS1 this past week was Tevin Farmer VS Emanuel Gonzalez, a very fine match on paper between two Super Featherweight prospects. We've got an undefeated prospect in Gonzalez and a fighter who has a significant edge in professional rounds and quality of experience in Tevin Farmer. Farmer was far too slick, too quick, and too much of everything for Gonzalez except pure brute force. Farmer, with only three knockouts, may not have come particularly close to stopping Gonzalez, but make no mistake in that he had everything else over him.

Farmer is mentioned to have been sparring partners for both current Light Welterweight Champion of the World Danny Garcia and the intensely watched Featherweight prospect and former Olympic Gold Medalist Vasyl Lomachenko. He warned that his losses were while learning on the job and it certainly looks likely from the refined performance of this broadcast. He gave all the defensive and offensive angles that Gonzalez could handle in the few competitive moments and a lot more that he couldn't come close to handling throughout the fight. The score cards were rightfully wide. There were no adjustment to Farmer constantly popping his straight left down the pike on Gonzalez and Farmer, knowing that you don't fix broken things, enjoyed punching Gonzalez so much, in such a rhythm, even doubled and tripled his straight lefts at times with no price paid for this entertainment.

One of Farmer's three losses is to recent ESPN fighter, Poland's Super Featherweight prospect, Kamil Laszcyk. Separated by one weight class, coming through different recent TV channels but in the same circuit, as far not being on an HBO or Showtime level of prestige, maybe we'll see a rematch of these two, with their seasoning bringing intrigue. Both are 23 and seem very ready for a tougher test. I'd like to see both again. As far as Gonzalez is concerned, I'm not familiar with him and maybe he looks better against a different style of fighter. Against Farmer, however, he seemed lost. Trying, but lost.





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Basement Gym Boxing

Monday, June 9, 2014

Reaction GIF Spotlight: Floyd Mayweather Junior For When You Can't Find It

















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Basement Gym Boxing

Daniel Martz VS Alexis Santos: The FS1 Disaster Of The Evening




Alexis Santos was in a spectacle tonight. Referee Leo Gerstel, for better or worse, is our referee for this match. Brian Custer and Danny Jacobs are our commentators. There was, of course, some kind of title on the line, of some sort.


So, round one begins:

1:34 remaining:

Santos seems to have hurt his ankle leaping into a left hook and squats down with a glove touch, with no knockdown called, rightfully. Martz goes after him and starts landing on the ropes, Santos covering up.

1:15 remaining:

Santos goes down, seemingly, again, not from Martz's attack but the assumed pain in his right ankle. Brian Custer and Danny Jacobs are both saying right ankle. This time, the referee gives him a count. He was getting hit on the ropes when he went down, though it looks to me like he's trying to hop on one foot just to remain upright when he goes down. In no way do I think punches forced him down but seeing that the punches were taking place when he went down, the referee's call here is not a problem to me just yet.

Martz is swarming Santos with body shots and mugging him, making vocal noises when he punches. Santos does finally attempt a big right hand but he's clearly having trouble just standing, let alone planting his feet to punch. The round ends Martz looking to use his body weight to back up the man that can barely stand to the ropes and lean on him a bit, after the bell is clear limping agony. I am thinking they might stop it in the corner. The referee is in plain view of this. All that's audible to me for sure is the cornerman asking "What do you want to do? Quit?"

Round 2:

At the very beginning of round two, with Martz charging to his target, Santos can't do anything but hobble backwards to the ropes, which probably held him up and bounced him back upright. Martz is openly shoving him back, bulling him into the ropes, because his man can't offer any resistance to it, heavily outweighed and with only one leg. It's smart tactics on his part if the referee allows it, but it's so blatant, a veteran ref should have him warned at that point. Santos can only throw a shot here and there, all his strength and concentration seems to be on keeping upright. Everytime Martz wants to back him up, it's easy work. Santos is talking to him. It looks like he's gesturing to his ankle, saying something to the effect of "I'm on one leg, is that all you can do to me?" That sort of thing. And, really, one wonders if that is all Martz can do with a man on one leg.

As Santos looks like he's finally getting his bearings back, Martz takes the opportunity to lean/push him down again and Santos gives way to the giant and goes to the ground. The referee rules it a slip, does NOT warn Martz that I can tell either. Santos is frustrated, and looks to push away the ref a bit to get back to work his near impossible task. The referee lets them go back to the fight. Santos tries to push into Martz, possibly with a deliberate attempt to butt him and Martz, in this ugly disaster, decides to again get his body weight on him and just walks the hobbling, hopping, one-legged fighter back into the corner as they embrace in a bear hug that is anything but affectionate.

Santos is clearly in agony and the referee breaks them. He sends Martz to the corner and walks Santos to his own corner to speak to the doctor. They continue. I don't know why. This is becoming pointless. I do understand letting a guy try and make the best of it to see if he can fight but it seems clear that he simply can't fight under these circumstances (how many guys could?) and if Martz where sharper he might have ended it by now but he's simply not good enough to take advantage with actual punches. He's only able to take advantage with leaning and pushing the crippled opponent.

This just isn't fighting, despite Santos' admirable efforts. Santos tries to even bounce a bit and keep the hope alive but missing a punch he slips to the canvas yet again at about 45 seconds left in the second round. If that isn't the final touch of obviousness to stop the match, I really don't know what is. But referee Leo Gerstel, mindbogglingly, just walks him to the corner for another check with the doctor and the "fight" continues on! 20 seconds left and Martz somehow can't end it any more than the referee can see that it's over. At the tail end of the third Santos misses an overhand right haymaker by an absolute mile and his ankle gives and he touches his glove to the canvas and hobbles back upright. Danny Jacobs says "Wow...interesting round." That is one way to describe this atrocity, Mr. Jacobs.

They go back to their corners and I here someone out there say "WHAT in the HELL...?" and I am right there with whoever said it. It looks like still the doctor and referee haven't elected to put an end to this. I think the corner tells Santos they're going to stop it and Santos says through any FS1 attempt at censorship "Don't you f**king dare!" but I think he knows where it's going. Danny Jacobs is with Santos on this, it seems. But when your job is to watch over your fighter, you cannot have that fighters' mentality that Jacobs and Santos seem to have about this. 'We talked about- he's got over 200 family and friends." Brian Custer adds to drive home why Santos might be so resistant to giving up on this situation. 

So, we head into the THIRD ROUND. I am astonished by this. Honestly, I am. Santos' attitude is admirable but there's a reason why fighters don't get allowed to fight on as they wish and the corner, the referee and the doctor can overrule them. There's a reason for that. If this had been against a more dangerous and savvy fighter than Martz, this could've been a tragedy. As this round starts Santos clutches onto Martz with his back to the ropes. Martz is still incapable of ending this. He's largely smothering himself trying to lean on Santos and punch at the same time. I fully believe if he gave himself room it'd be over by now. He could probably have ended this in the second round if he were another more powerful and technical giant prospect- Dominic Breazeale, for instance. 


Jessica Rosales comes on to tell us about the doctor's thoughts. The doctor had thoughts, I guess. Basically, he's said that as long as Santos can stand and see and wants to continue...which is where Brian Custer reminds us we've seen several instances where the standing part hasn't come off. Thank you, Brian. Danny Jacobs again affirms his support for the fight continuing. Jacobs seems both very genuine but very misguided on this, to me. I'm thinking Brian is more along with my line of thinking here. The fighters exchange at about a minute and thirty seconds to go and again Santos is pushed, hobbling backward on one leg. Martz is still smothering himself when he's trying to attack. Santos loses his footing again, but not falling, only going backward into the corner, hopping along. Martz is still inept while Santos is in the corner. This is a truly awful thing. Santos keeps dipping in pain and wincing. Santos waves Martz in and smiles at him. He's no more impressed y the big man than I am. The round ends. Thankfully. We've got a physically crippled fighter and a technically crippled fighter and neither of them is doing much fighting because of their handicaps.


The end: The fight is finally called as a corner retirement. Daniel "The Mountain" Martz celebrated as though he had actually won the fight on his own merits. I thought that was a fascinating reaction, if not outright distasteful. But I can understand being excited, even under those circumstances, I suppose. He really thinks he did something and the crowd really thinks not as they boo him in Santos' backyard. "Any victory's a good victory." Danny Jacobs says, kindly.




Summary: Daniel Martz has an awful lot of work to do if he wants to be a hot heavyweight prospect. I wouldn't mind FS1 getting him in with fellow mountainous heavyweight Dominic Breazeale, I'd add, as a speak-of-the-devil moment. Alexis Santos is a proud fighter. Leo Gerstel gets an F and that F stands for a bad word I said multiple times during his officiating job in this match. Despite what I consider poor officiating calls and a disaster event, on paper, this wasn't a bad pick for FS1.






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Basement Gym Boxing

Max Baer, Joe Louis & Lou Costello: Reaction GIF Spotlight - When You & Friends Are Happy




Lou Costello, former boxer and star comic, conducting a post fight interview with Max Baer and with Joe Louis next to Max, after Baer bludgeoned "Two Ton" Tony Galento.















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Basement Gym Boxing

Friday, June 6, 2014

Jamie Kavanagh VS Michael Clark - Clark takes another knockout but gives good resistance



The commentators for the evening were both men who've fairly recently rebounded from cancer scares in triumph, middleweight contender Danny Jacobs and veteran broadcaster Brian Custer. FS1's opening match was a lightweight contest between Irish propsect Jamie Kavanagh and the type of veteran opponent you'd expect to see him against in technically sound but 40-year-old Michael Clark (former opponent of Artur Grigorian, Vivian Harris and Mike Alvarado, among others). Both fighters have trained at Wild Card Gym. Brian Custer says that Kavanagh has sparred a number of times with Manny Pacquiao.

The first round started hot for the typical feel out round. Joel Diaz, Kavanagh's trainer warns him not to telegraph his punches before the second round begins. Kavanagh is mentioned to have recently split with Freddie Roach and picked up with Diaz. He is also mentioned to be fluent in Spanish, having lived in Spain. Both men landed big in the second and third. Round four started seeing some more tying up and blunting of the action but it's not a boo-inducer.

Fifth and final round: Jacobs says if he's noticing correctly, he thinks both fighters appear to be cut. Possible head clash? Mid-round, Kavanagh lands a big left hook after committing to more body work as requested by Diaz. Clark wipes at his eye, Kavanagh appears to land a hard low blow left hook that stops the action. Right now the fight's unraveling with Clark bothered by the cut above the right eye, the low blow, getting tagged with flush power punches by the significantly younger man and toward the end of the round Clark goes down from one of Kavanagh's sneaky lead right hands. Now, pretty much everything is against Clark with the young prospect. He seems perfectly steady upon getting up and he could hang with the young man technically but Clark apparently said that was it and I think it was probably a judicious call, because he was in a hole now and he was very unlikely to climb back out. Like I said, he was in the match but seemed to unravel quickly. 

Summary: Kavanagh really is showing to be a nice TV fighter at this level, if not necessarily a future champion level of prospect. He's tough enough to bring good action and he's got a bit of craft to him. Clark, well, he works hard at a hard living he probably can't take part in for much longer but he's putting in the reasonable effort and didn't do himself any disservice, I don't think. He's still fulfilling the role of the kind of fighter you'd like to see a prospect in against before they take a step up with fresher fighters. Not a bad choice for FS1 on paper or in retrospect. It was good action from both men while it lasted.


Broadcast quote:

Danny Jacobs on Michael Clark:  "I had the pleasure of training with him out in Wild Card boxing gym with Freddie Roach and I seen him spar and I seen him fight. He's an excellent inside fighter so that's the fight that I want to see him fight tonight."




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Basement Gym Boxing

Thursday, June 5, 2014

David Haye & Tyson Fury Laugh, Clap, Pause: Reaction GIF Spotlight






David Haye and Tyson Fury in a priceless interview during the lead up to their canceled match on Sky Sports' Ringside.







Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing