Paul Williams VS Kermit Cintron: If You're Feelin' Froggy, Don't Do This. (GIF Spotlight)

In May of 2010, the indomitable Paul Williams took on Kermit Cintron. Both former major titlists at welterweight, they met at light middleweight on HBO. It was heating up to become a good fight when IT happened. The strangeness fell upon us, the audience, at home or in the crowd. A thing. Something. A strange something. It happened. What it is will never be understood, as a matter of pugilism, as a matter of medicine, as a matter of sheer physics, what happened that night will never be understood. Here it is:

And, that little leap, ladies and gentlemen, ended the contest in the fourth round. A technical decision was awarded to Paul Williams, and Kermit Cintron left a completely baffled crowd on a stretcher, in a neck brace. Some how. For some reason. There were once brothers. Their surname was Mario. Mario and Luigi Mario. The Mario brothers, some called them. I seem to recall when Mario Mario would put on a green frog suit, it enabled him to swim more efficiently and to jump farther than ever before. Kermit is the name of a famous frog. I'm just trying to connect the dots here. I've almost figured this event out. . .

Yeah, I give up. Regardless, Cintron was recently KO'd by Tyrone Brunson and he is scheduled to fight 8-1 Marquis Taylor on the thirteenth of this month. Taylor is listed as having never scored a knockout. Maybe he can study this GIF to see how to otherwise incapacitate Cintron. But he'll have to break the laws of physics to make this happen again. Watch this space.

Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing


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

Hector in headdress boogies before the Pazienza match begins

Joe Frazier in a promo hanging up the phone on Muhammad Ali 

Prince Naseem Hamed Shadow Dancing

Brandon Rios' Retrospectively Cringeworthy Quote On Pacquiao VS Margarito

Brandon Rios, before he'd reached the major world title fight scene, back in 2010, was working alongside Antonio Margarito in Robert Garcia's gym. Margarito's match with Manny Pacquiao was coming up HBO's 24/7 lead-up documentary was being filmed, which, perhaps surprisingly, was a four-part series. When the two gym buddies were interviewed in the second episode of the four, with Margarito's arm slung around Brandon's shoulder, Brandon made his opinion on the outcome clear.

Brandon Rios on Pacquiao VS Margarito, 2010:

"Pacquiao's making excuses that he's not training, he's missing the election,
all that. But, you know what? To me, I think he's scared, and Freddie Roach is
scared, 'cause he's not gonna be the superstar no more. He's just going to be
a-maybe-uh, super, maybe. But the star that's coming up is going to be Margarito.
I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to cancel the fight, saying that 'I hurt my hand.'
 or something, just 'cause he's scared."

To think that a few years down the line, Pacquiao would've dominated and beat up both of these fellows after this comment is sort of funny. I don't believe either won a single round out of twelve a piece against the littler tornado. I guess we all need a serving of crow in our diet, at some point. Incidentally, there is talk of Tony Margarito coming back to boxing, against all odds.


Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing


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

Jim Lampley and Roy Jones Junior Agree On Pacquiao's Spite

Bob Arum On How Pacquiao & Mayweather Will Spend Their Giant Payday

Paulie Malignaggi On Pacquiao Being TBE, After Cotto Match: Quote Spotlight

What is Mayweather's record against southpaws? No one knows? Let's see. . .

 

The above image is not that of a fighter while being actively ducked or winning. This is apparently a difficult concept to grasp. 

"He has fought so many southpaws as an amateur that he's very hip to what to do to 'em."

~Al Bernstein, on Floyd Mayweather Junior possibly being thrown by Reggie Sanders' southpaw stance in his second professional fight, on ESPN, as commentator during the match in question.

So, before his first professional match against a southpaw was complete, the talk was already of being experienced against southpaws.

Floyd Mayweather Junior then went on to face eight of them in total, as a professional, all without suffering defeat, as follows:

1996: Reggie Sanders: Unanimous decision in his second fight.
1997: Bobby Giepert: KO1 victory, in his sixth fight.
1997: Jesus (Roberto) Chavez: TKO5 victory, in his ninth fight.
2004: DeMarcus Corley: Unanimous decision victory over twelve rounds, in his thirty-second fight.
2005: Sharmba Mitchell: TKO6 victory, in his thirty-fifth fight.
2006: Zab Judah: Unanimous decision victory over twelve rounds, in his thirty-sixth fight.
2011: Victor Ortiz: KO4 victory, in his forty-second fight.
2013: Robert Guerrero: Unanimous decision victory over twelve rounds, in his forty-fourth fight.

His total record against southpaws: 8-0-0, with four knockouts. So, he's never drawn with or had anything worse than a unanimous decision victory against 8 different southpaws. Five of the eight southpaws (that's a majority here, if you're mathematically challenged) have been major world titlist names. So, he's faced and decisively defeated southpaws throughout his career, from his time as a prospect, to his time as a young champion, to his status as a pound-for-pound elite PPV celebrity.

Where does the Mayweather southpaw myth come from? We all know the myth we're talking about. Where does it come from? Ignorance, manipulation, stupidity, lack of integrity, any of those, I would say. Maybe Bob Arum would know something about this propaganda as well. Now, if you debunk the Mayweather southpaw myth on Tuesday morning, and you're missing the high you get from it, just take comfort in the fact that it will be as unharmed as ever by Tuesday afternoon, and you'll have a fresh chance to debunk it again, if that's your thing. That is the power of myths.

It seems that every day, as I comb the Internet forums to see what boxing fans are bickering about, it comes up. Every time, it is just as wrong as it ever was. People do believe what they want. But the question is: How many fighters in the sport of boxing have fought eight southpaws, let alone five major world titlist southpaws, and beaten them all by no worse than unanimous decision or knockout, let alone done any better? Can you think of one around at the moment? I can't. How about ever? Let me know your thoughts. I'm genuinely curious if you can name any or have any corrections about these statistics.



Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing


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

Floyd Mayweather Junior's sparring profile

What is Floyd Mayweather Junior's reach?

Bob Arum Trolls ESPN Viewers: Troll Quote Of The Week Included, Complete With Southpaw Myth And Hitler Comparison

The Mayweather Matrix GIF

What is Floyd Mayweather Junior's Reach? A Reference Guide

Considering when boxing statistics are released, there is some confusion over changes in how measurements are reported. When it comes to reach statistics this is particularly interesting because sometimes we get "wingspan" and other times we get arm length measurements from the armpit to the end of the fist, which may be what more fans are actually interested in, even though it is used less. This page will stand to inform you of which sources list Floyd Mayweather Junior's reach and how, so that you have a good idea for your reference. This will include any broadcast tales of the tape from any channel that I may find. All reach measurements will be paired alongside that of the opponent's, for your convenience and according to the broadcast's tale of the tape, as opposed to their Boxrec listing. We will update this page regularly to get it as thorough as possible and maintain it. You may click through to Boxrec for each fighter's individual page.

Last updated: 27th of January, 2015

Longest reported wingspan on file: 72 inches (x17)
Shortest reported wingspan on file: 69 inches (x1)

Longest reported armpit to arm length on file: 26 inches (x13)
Shortest reported armpit arm length on file: 26 inches (x13)

Differences for wingspan: 3 listed: 72 inches (x17), 71 inches (x1) and 69 inches (x1)
Differences for arm length: 1 listed: 26 inches (x13)

Longest difference for Mayweather with greater reach on file: 7 inches wingspan, against Jesus Chavez (the champion), 6 inches arm length for Ricky Hatton.
Longest difference for opponent with greater reach on file:
1 arm length, Phillip Ndou, by one inch, 27 inches to 26 inches
Wingspan has been equaled against Justin Juuko, both were listed at 72 inches.
Diego Corrales' wingspan was listed as 1 inch longer at 73 inches, to Floyd's 72. 

Boxrec: 72 inches/183 centimeters
Wikipedia: 72 inches/183 centimeters

Earliest to latest broadcast tale of the tapes (TOTT's):

1996:
(professional debut year)

1. VS Roberto Apodaca:

Mayweather: Currently unavailable
Apodaca: Currently unavailable
Airing on 11th of October, ESPN

2. VS Reggie Sanders:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 30th of November, ESPN

1997:

3. VS Jerry Cooper:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 18th of January, HBO

4. VS Edgar Ayala:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 1st of February, ESPN

5. VS Kino Rodriguez:
Mayweather: 71 inches - Rodriguez: 68 inches
Airing on 12th of March, DIRECTV

6. VS Bobby Giepert:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Geipert: 68 inches 
Airing on 12th of April, HBO

7. VS Tony Duran:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 9th of May, ESPN

8. VS Larry O'Shields:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 14th of June, Currently unavailable channel information


9. VS Jesus Chavez: 
Mayweather: 69 inches - Chavez: 68 inches
Airing on 12th of July, CBS Sports Show Budweiser Boxing Series

10. VS Louie Leija:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Leija: 68 inches
Airing on 6th of September, HBO

11. VS Felipe Garcia:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Garcia: 67.5 inches
Airing on 14th of Octber, USA Network's Tuesday Night Fights

12. VS Angelo Nunez:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Nunez: 71 inches
Airing on 20th of November, Channel Unknown-not HBO or Showtime


1998:


13. VS Hector Arroyo:
Currently unavailable


14. VS Sam Girard:
Currently unavailable


15. VS Miguel Melo:
Currently unavailable


16. VS Gustavo Fabian Cuello: 
Mayweather: 72 inches - Cuello: 68 inches
Airing on, 18th of April, channel unknown

17. VS Tony Pep:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 14th of June, ESPN2

18. VS Genaro Hernandez: 
Currently unavailable


19. VS Angel Manfredy:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Manfredy: 71 inches
19th of December, HBO

1999:

20. VS Carlos Alberto Ramon Rios:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Rios: 66 inches
Airing on 17th of February, TNT

21. VS Justin Juuko:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Juuko: 72 inches
Airing on 22nd of May, HBO

22. VS Carlos Gerena:


 

2000:

23. VS Gregorio Vargas:

Mayweather: 72 - Vargas: 67
Airing on 18th of March, HBO

24. VS Emanuel Augustus (Burton, formerly):



2001:

25. VS Diego Corrales: 
Mayweather: 72 inches - Corrales: 73 inches
Airing on 20th of January, HBO

26. VS Carlos Hernandez:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Hernandez: 65.5 inches
Airing on 26th of May, HBO

27. VS Jesus Chavez:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Chavez: 65 inches
Airing on 10th of November, HBO



2002:

28. VS Jose Luis Castillo I:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Castillo: 70 inches
Airing on 20th of April, HBO 

29. VS Jose Luis Castillo II:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Castillo: 70 inches
Airing on 7th of December, HBO

2003:

30. VS Victoriano Sosa:
*The HBO broadcast unusually featured both arm length and wingspan.
Wingspan: Mayweather: 72 inches - Sosa:  71 inches
Arm length: Mayweather: 26 inches - Sosa: 25 inches
Airing on 19th of April, HBO

31. VS Phillip Ndou:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Ndou: 27 inches
Airing on 1st of November, HBO

2004:

32. VS DeMarcus Corley: 
Mayweather: 26 inches - Corley: 24.5 inches
Airing on 22nd of May, HBO

2005:

33. VS Henry Bruseles:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Bruseles: 23 inches
Airing on 22nd of January, HBO

34. Arturo Gatti:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Gatti: 25 inches
Airing on 25th of June, HBO

35. VS Sharmba Mitchell: 
Mayweather: 26 inches - Mitchell: 21.5 inches
Airing on 19th of November, HBO

2006:

36. VS Zab Judah:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Judah: 22 inches
Airing on 8th of April, 2006, HBO


37. VS Carlos Baldomir:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Baldomir: 23.5 inches
Airing on 4th of November, HBO


2007:

38. VS Oscar De La Hoya:
Mayweather: 26 inches - De La Hoya: 24 inches
Airing on 5th of May, HBO

39. VS Ricky Hatton:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Hatton: 20 inches
Airing on 8th of December, HBO




2008:

(Mayweather did not fight in this year)

2009:

40. VS Juan Manuel Marquez: 
Mayweather: 26 inches - Marquez: 23 inches
Airing on 19th of September, HBO

2010:

41. VS Shane Mosley:  
Mayweather: 26 inches - Mosley: 23.5 inches
Airing on 1st of May, HBO

2011:

42. VS Victor Ortiz:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Ortiz: 23.5 inches
Airing on 17th of September, HBO


2012:

43. VS Miguel Cotto:



2013: 

44. VS Robert Guerrero:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Guerrero: 70 inches
Airing on 4th of May, Showtime

45. VS Saul Alvarez:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Alvarez: 70.5 inches
Airing on 14th of September, Showtime

2014:


46. VS Marcos Rene Maidana I:




47. VS Marcos Rene Maidana II:

Airing on 13th of September,


2015:

(Mayweather did not fight in this year)


*Please, comment for any corrections, suggestions, etc.


Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing


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

Floyd Mayweather Junior's Weight, With Unofficial/Rehydration Weights List

Bob Arum Trolls ESPN Viewers: Troll Quote Of The Week Included, Complete With Southpaw Myth And Hitler Comparison

Another Friendly Arum Quote Reminder...Oscar De La Hoya, on Mayweather VS Pacquiao

What Do Middleweights Rehydrate To? An Unofficial Weight Reference List

The following is a list compiled from our main page:

Fight Night Boxing Weights: A List Of Unofficial Weigh-in Weights After Rehydration

Please note: This particular reference list page is only for Middleweights fighting that we have on file. Where we have seen catch-weights implemented within the Middleweight range, we have made note. This page is meant to answer the question only of what your standard Middleweight rehydration will look like for educational purposes, whether you are interested academically or for betting purposes, debate, whatever. I hope you find it helpful if you've recently done a search for it. If you like what we do here, please bookmark, share, link to us, comment, etc. If you have a correction on any typos or special, relevant information you feel we should make note of, any error or anything at all, please feel free to comment. What we get the most response to we will likely work the most to expand on. Thanks for your visit.


Middleweight Division: 160 lbs

2018:

December:

Claressa Shields VS Femke Hermans - Contested at Middleweight
Shields: Official: 159.2 - Unofficial: 164.6
Hermans: Official: 157 - Unofficial: 158

May:

Gennady Golovkin VS Vanes Martirosyan - Contest at Middleweight

Golovkin:     Official: 160 - Unofficial:  173.6
Maritrosyan: Official: 159.6 - Unofficial:  170.6

2015:

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 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.

Gennady Golovkin VS Willie Monroe Junior - Contested at Middleweight

Golovkin: Official: 159 - Unofficial: 170
Monroe Junior: Official: 160 - Unofficial: 172


2014:


December:

Andy Lee VS Matt Korobov - Contested at Middleweight

Lee: 167.5

Korobov: 174

October:

Gennady Golovkin VS Marco Antonio Rubio - Contested at Middleweight, with Rubio failing to make weight and accepting a purse cut to stay at 161.75 (to be 100% precise, Jim Lampley says 161.8), even stripped completely naked at the weigh-in.

Golovkin: 173
Rubio: 181

August:

Matvey Korobov VS Jose Uzcategui - Contested at Middleweight

Korobov: 173
Uzcategui: 175

2013:

December:

Matthew Macklin VS Lamar Russ - Contested at Middleweight 

Macklin: 172
Russ: 168




James Kirkland VS Glen Tapia - Contested at Middleweight, despite both being ranked as Light Middleweights and only slightly going above weight, the ultimate contracts allowed a 156-pound limit, just inside the Middleweight division.

Kirkland: 168
Tapia: 165



October:



Peter Quillin VS Gabriel Rosado - Contested at Middleweight 

Quillin: 170 
Rosado: 175

June:

Gennady Golovkin VS Matthew Macklin - Contested at Middleweight

Golovkin: 170
Macklin: 170


2012:

Gennady Golovkin VS Gregorz Proksa - Contested at Middleweight

Golovkin: 168
Proksa: 166

2011:

October:

Sergio Martinez VS Darren Barker - Contested at Middleweight

Martinez: 165
Barker: 168


June:

Julio Cesar Chavez Junior VS Sebastian Zbik - Contested at Middleweight 

Chavez: 180
Zbik: 165

2010:

September:


Sergio Martinez VS Paul Williams II - Contested at Middleweight with a 158-pound catch-weight limit

Martinez: 168
Williams: 168

July:



Dmitry Pirog VS Danny Jacobs - Contested at Middleweight

Pirog: 170
Jacobs: 170

April:

Sergio Martinez VS Kelly Pavlik - Contested at Middleweight

Pavlik:     Official: 159.5 - Unofficial: 178
Martinez: Official: 159.5 - Unofficial: 167

2009:

December:

Paul Williams VS Sergio Martinez I - Contested at Middleweight

Williams: 166
Martinez: 166


2007:



September:

Kelly Pavlik VS Jermain Taylor - Contested at Middleweight

Pavlik: 168
Taylor: 166

May:

Kelly Pavlik VS Edison Miranda - Contested at Middleweight

Pavlik: 171
Miranda: 173


2005:


December: 

Jermain Taylor VS Bernard Hopkins II - Contested at Middleweight

Hopkins:169
Taylor: 169

July:

Jermain Taylor VS Bernard Hopkins I - Contested at Middleweight

Hopkins: 168
Taylor: 171

May: 

Felix Trinidad VS Ronald Wright - Contested at Middleweight 

Trinidad: 169
Wright: 168



2004:


October:

Felix Trinidad VS Ricardo Mayorga - Contested at Middleweight

Trinidad: 168
Mayorga: 165


2000:

December:

Bernard Hopkins VS Antwun Echols - Contested at Middleweight

Hopkins: 166
Echols: 163


For the next heaviest weight (Super Middleweight) click here
For the next lightest weight (Light Middleweight) click here



Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing

What Do Light Middleweights Rehydrate To? An Unofficial Weight Reference List

The following is a list compiled from our main page:

Fight Night Boxing Weights: A List Of Unofficial Weigh-in Weights After Rehydration

Please note: This particular reference list page is only for Light Middleweights fighting without catch-weights, that we have on file. Where we have seen catch-weights implemented within the Light Middleweight range, we have made note. This page is meant to answer the question only of what your standard Light Middleweight rehydration will look like for educational purposes, whether you are interested academically or for betting purposes, debate, whatever. I hope you find it helpful if you've recently done a search for it. If you like what we do here, please bookmark, share, link to us, comment, etc. If you have a correction on any typos or special, relevant information you feel we should make note of, any error or anything at all, please feel free to comment. What we get the most response to we will likely work the most to expand on. Thanks for your visit.


The Light Middleweight Division, AKA Junior Middleweight Division, AKA Super Welterweight Division: 154 lbs

2018:

November: 

Dmitry Bivol VS Jean Pascal - Contested at Light Heavyweight
(HBO broadcast)

Bivol:  Official: 174.4 - Unofficial: 181
Pascal: Official: 174.6 - Unofficial: 188
July: 

Jaime Munguia VS Liam Smith - Contested at Light Middleweight

Smith:      Official: 153.8 - Unofficial: 172
Munguia: Official: 153.8 - Unofficial: 176

May: 

Jaime Munguia VS Sadam Ali - Contested at Light Middleweight

Ali:          Official: 153 - Unofficial: 169
Munguia: Official: 152 - Unofficial: 170


2015:

June:


Terrell Gausha VS Luis Grajeda - Contested at Light Middleweight: While Gausha came in technically at light middleweight, Grajeda was technically two pounds into the middleweight range, and is listed as a middleweight fighter.
(PBC on NBC Broadcast)
Gausha: Official: 154 - Unofficial: 169
Grajeda: Official: 156 - Unofficial: 167
Errol Spence Junior VS Phil Lo Greco - Contested technically at Light Middleweight. Spence is assumed to be a welterweight prospect though often fights just above the limit. Lo Greco is thought to be a Light Middleweight fighter, but was called on short notice (3 days). This was a PBC broadcast TOTT. This is listed on our welterweights page because of Spence Junior's status as a welterweight fighter, so that you do not miss his listings, as well as on our Light Middleweights page.

Spence: Official: 149 - Unofficial: 162
Lo Greco: Official: 152 - Unofficial: 164

2014:


December:

Erislandy Lara VS Ishe Smith - Contested at Light Middleweight

Lara: 170.5
Smith: ? (Showtime did not have this weight on their TOTT)


Jermall Charlo VS Lenny Bottai 

Charlo: 170
Bottai: 160

2013:


November:




Demetrius Andrade VS Vanes Martirosyan - Contested at Light Middleweight

Andrade: 166
Martirosyan: 164



June: 


Erislandy Lara VS Alfredo Angulo - Contested at Light Middleweight

Lara: 164
Angulo:  174

2012:



December:

Keith Thurman VS Carlos Quintana - Contested at Light Middleweight with a 152-pound catch-weight limit

Thurman: 160
Quintana: 165

May:

Saul Alvarez VS Shane Mosley - Contested at Light Middleweight

Alvarez: 167
Mosley: 164



2011:

November:

James Kirkland VS Alfredo Angulo - Contested at Light Middleweight

Kirkland: ???
Angulo: 163

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."
March:

Saul Alvarez VS Matthew Hatton - Contested at Light Middleweight

Alvarez: 165
Hatton:  157




2010:

November:

Manny Pacquiao VS Antonio Margarito - Contested at Catchweight of 150 lbs

Pacquiao: 148
Margarito: 165


September:

Shane Mosley VS Sergio Mora - Contested at Light Middleweight, with Mora failing to meet the weight obligation by 3 pounds

Mosley: 164
Mora: 164


2009:

March:


James Kirkland VS Joel Julio - Contested at Light Middleweight

Kirkland: 166
Julio:  167

February: 

Sergio Martinez VS Kermit Cintron - Contested at Light Middleweight

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

2008:

May:


James Kirkland VS Eromosele Albert - Contested at Light Middleweight:

Kirkland: 158
Albert: 158

2007:

July:

Vernon Forrest VS Carlos Baldomir - Contested at Light Middleweight

Forrest: 160
Baldomir: 162



2006:

July:

Shane Mosley VS Fernando Vargas II - Contested at Light Middleweight

Mosley: 159
Vargas: 168



February:

Shane Mosley VS Fernando Vargas I - Contested at Light Middleweight

Mosley: 159
Vargas: 166

2003: 


September:

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

De La Hoya: 158
Mosley: 161


For the next heaviest weight (Middleweight) click here
For the next lightest weight (Welterweight) click here


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.


Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing  

Gausha Lights Up Vila: GIF Spotlight

Cleveland's own Terrell Gausha puts away Cesar Vila with a blistering combination in his ESPN showcase, December of 2014.

Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing



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

Gausha On Display: Terrell Gausha VS Cesar Vila

Faces of what's at stake: Isaac Chilemba: Quote Spotlight 

Shannon Briggs: Making You Racist Since 2006 - BGB Throwback Article Spotlight 

Gausha On Display: Terrell Gausha VS Cesar Vila

The setup: 

2012 Olympian from Cleveland, Terrell Gausha, undefeated as a pro, takes on fellow prospect Cesar Vila on the opening ESPN2 bout for their nice card in Temecula, California.

The action:

While there were times when Gausha was muscled back, smothered a bit, caught while stationary with his guard, leaving a nice target for a big swing from his Cesar Vila, it's nitpicking with this excellent prospect. He put on a good performance with good action for his television audience. Gausha's offense was so pretty last night I think there could've been a novella called "Terrell Gausha's punches and Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King.

He may have room for improvement when a guy is putting the pressure on, but he also walked Cesar Vila, a gritty foe, onto plenty of left hooks and right uppercuts as he came in. Here and there, Gausha worked a stiff-arm maneuver on Vila without him knowing quite how to deal with it, getting measured and kept in place with that left and smacked with the right. Jack Reiss, in his discretion, didn't have much to say about that, as many refs don't. When Vila did his best to drag Gausha into a fire fight, particularly before he he had Gausha on the ropes, he got battered more and more up to the time of the stoppage. It's not many young fighters that can land sweat-flying jab/straight right combinations from so close, the way Terrell did. Blistering, short, sharp, accurate, and while under intense aggression.

The ending:

With a big lead and in the zone Gausha stood in front of Vila and fired two rapid one-two's for a four-punch demolition. The way Vila hit the deck and the wide lead seem to have been the decider for Referee Jack Reiss to go ahead and call it immediately, though in the eighth and final round. There was a protest in the corner that was censored by ESPN. They weren't happy. I believe I heard Jack say first "I seen enough, man." and then "Hey, look at the score cards." to the corner. The stoppage was a little questionable, partly because Vila was ready to get up and continue and it was called before he had a chance to try and show Jack Reiss this, and partly because it was nearing the final bell. I can neither strongly agree nor disagree with it. I understand Jack's stoppage, I think, and I understand also why the corner was upset. I guess that's why being a referee means always knowing that you'll never please everyone, but you might at least keep someone well enough to fight another day. Gausha KO8 Vila.

What it means to me: 

While I have plenty of time for complimenting Gausha, I've got some for Vila too. He was not technically in Gausha's class but that is not to say he doesn't have class. I will not be at all surprised if I see Vila come back from this one. He landed more than a couple bombs, didn't allow himself time to be discouraged in getting the worst of the action and went out on his shield, he can come back better. He is 28-years-old and clearly has a fighter's heart and mentality. Gausha's stock didn't rise so much as his experience did. Eight more pro rounds in the books, still remaining an excellent prospect and a very good choice for any channel that wants to have him on the card. Fox, ESPN, even Showtime seem to know he's a good pick when available. The guy is good TV and a well-schooled threat.


Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing




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

Quotes About Clinching: Richard Steele Delights Marv Albert
A Reminder Now That Both Are Unscheduled Again...Alex Ariza On Bob Arum
What to do when someone else is to blame: GIF Spotlight

Sugar Ray Leonard Celebrates Kalule Victory: Celebration GIF Spotlight

Sugar Ray Leonard celebrates his victory over 36-0 Ayub Kalule, to win a major world title at Light Middleweight while being the lineal welterweight champion, TKO9, 25th of June, 1981. It is one of the sport's great somersault moments.


Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing



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

Hard Time Corner Blues: Volume 1: Shadeed Suluki VS Andrey Klimov

An old Bob Arum quote on Floyd Mayweather Junior: Spotlight on Nostalgic Promotion Theory

Bernard Hopkins Gives Don King Malocchio Pugilistico: Reaction GIF Spotlight

Harsh Comments On Kenny Bayless' Performance During Mayweather/Maidana: James Ali Bashir Quote Spotlight

                    (image of discussion involving James Ali Bashir insulting Kenny Bayless on Facebook)

I've been through hours of reading about the big Mayweather/Maidana rematch last night. A rematch of what was a very good contest, with both the lineal Light Middleweight and Welterweight title on the line. It was a match of monetary and historical value that turned into a messy, unfriendly-to-fans clash between not just fighting styles but referee styles, it seems. Now, I've always maintained that Kenny Bayless was a great referee and a man of integrity in an occupation where somehow Laurence Cole is an oft-used referee. But it can't be ignored that Kenny is being badly slated over the perception that he helped make the match a stinker, and in strong favour of Floyd Mayweather Junior. I am highly reluctant to pick on Bayless, considering, as stated, that I've always rated him very highly, both personally and professionally. But I do want to spotlight one surprising catch during my reading of the feedback on his officiating.

While browsing the popular Facebook boxing group/forum called "Boxologist" James Ali Bashir, a man known to have worked closely with the late Emanuel Steward for a long time, and top trainer in his own right, serving on the current Wladimir Klitschko/Johnathon Banks team, apparently making his public disdain for Bayless as clear as possible.


If you can't view the image, Bashir says in one comment: "When they chose this geek to ref, I knew that this would happen! Special$$$interest Groups saw that he would be the ref."

Then comments immediately afterward: "Steve Smoger is probably the best Ref out there at this time! He allows the fighters to fight inside and out. You can't have a good and honest contest unless you allow some inside fighting. Baylis(sic) never allows it!"


I'm sure I don't need to point out the humour in a man on Wladimir Klitschko's team talking about a good, honest contest needing to allow inside fighting. No disrespect intended, to any gentleman mentioned. But it is funny that Klitschko is one of the most highly criticised champions in boxing for getting away with spoiling on the inside with clinching and leaning on his opponents' backs and no inside fighting taking place for the rangy outside fighter. Why James Ali Bashir would make a public statement like that without worry that Bayless wouldn't take it out on one of his fighters, if he figures him so bad, I wouldn't know. But it's worth a quote spotlight, no matter what your opinion of it is, no?


Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing



Link to the Boxologist Facebook group/forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Boxologist/
Link to James Ali Bashir's page: https://www.facebook.com/JALIBAS
Link to the specific post/comment thread in question: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=317458301768154&set=gm.828927877138251&type=1&theater



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

Floyd Mayweather Junior's Sparring Profile: A Sparring Partner Reference List

Wladimir Klitschko Is Disgusted By Your Dirty Dancing: GIF Spotlight

Steve Bunce on Marcos Maidana's chances with Floyd Mayweather Junior: Quote Spotlight

Quotes about power: Emanuel Steward on Miguel Cotto VS Antonio Margarito

''As I said earlier, Margarito has no respect for Miguel, even though Miguel is one of the best punchers I have ever trained. For whatever reason, Margarito has no respect for his punching power. At all."

~Emanuel Steward, as HBO commentator, during the Miguel Cotto VS Antonio Margarito rematch, December of 2011.



Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing


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

Miguel Cotto VS Brendan Schaub: GIF Spotlight
Quote on Antonio Tarver's Power: Former Boxer, Brian Adams on FS1
Quotes About Power: Leroy Caldwell on Frank Bruno

Alfonso Gomez VS Ed Paredes: Gomez is the real crafty veteran here.

The setup: 

Alfonso Gomez comes into this fight having been a name fighter for about a decade. He has a rare distinction in that when I look at his record, I see more of his fights taking place against names I know than names I don't. Even for the sport's biggest fans, most records have far more "padding" full of people you won't remember than Gomez's. He may have entered with just over thirty professional fights. But those fights are jam-packed with names like Arturo Gatti, Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez. His first recognisable opponent as a professional, then-future world titlist Ishe Smith in his second fight. His career may not be legendary but it has been notable. Make no mistake about that. As it has been a full career, his body has taken a full career's worth of wear and tear. He's taken a few days shy of two years off to heal himself of injuries. He is not a young 33, Gomez. He comes off not only the layoff but two straight losses.

Meanwhile, his opponent, Ed Paredes, coming off a win streak, rather than a loss streak, has more professional fights, less losses and more recent activity. But very little of note happening in this history. It is implied by Gomez that the experience will be the key. Paredes doesn't thinks so, citing his impressive sparring experience against Erislandy Lara, Luis Collazo and Zab Judah.

The action:


It was not one punch that Paredes was open to or one tactic that Gomez employed against him. It was everything. Maybe not just everything that he did but everything he's done as a pro. While one of the best referees of my lifetime (Kenny Bayless) made not one but two official knockdown calls that were, upon instant replay review, very weak knockdowns that I feel he would not have called if he'd seen them clearly, Gomez stayed cool through it all. Both of those KD's were likely as much follow-through on his own punches pulling him down as anything you could credit to Paredes. Paredes was not without his moments and found a lot of nice left hooks with Gomez coming in but overall he was in over his head with the far savvier Gomez. Paulie Malignaggi, working as Fox commentator, said that Paredes was using a lazy approach to this fight. Was he right? Well, Paredes was so outsmarted that perhaps it is questionable whether he was being lazy in being outworked or too baffled to do much more than he did. It did look to me that it very well was a bit of both. When all is said and done, I think Gomez was right about the experience being a major factor. Gomez earned a very just UD10 over Paredes.

What it means: 

I think this demonstrates that Paredes simply isn't world class, or ready to prove he is by a long shot, and Gomez is still proving only one cut below that kind of recognition for now. Oddly, he can look to former opponent Ishe Smith. Because he could end up doing exactly as Smith did and coming up just shy until very late in the game and snatching a major world title for a brief time. It's very, very possible. Gomez is just that kind of fighter to keep working and taking risks until finally he gets that special payoff so many are working for. FS1 put on, overall, an excellent fight card, this ninth of July. That's what it means for each fighter and the broadcasting channel, as far as I can tell. But what it means to boxing might just be yet another embarrassing couple of instances that demonstrate the stupidity of not taking full advantage of instant replay, just like other major sports would. Kenny Bayless, again, arguably the best single referee in the sport right now, even he can miss calls like this. But it doesn't have to be that way. It could've been easily corrected.




Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing

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.




Work that bag,
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. 







Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing

Wendy Toussaint VS Anthony Gangemi - Uglyish 4-Round Decision Starts The ESPN Broadcast

For the first Friday Night Fights match tonight we got a scrappy 4-rounder. Wendy Toussaint shoved Anthony Gangemi down in round one and round two, earning a warning from the referee. He was clearly the more powerful man but seemed to fight nervously, trying with little discretion to land big uppercuts but landing some powerful body shots early. Teddy Atlas is spot on about Toussaint giving up his height.

In round three, Gangemi managed to pull Toussaint down. Three rounds where someone goes down and no official knockdowns! Toussaint seems to want to use his height here and there but be too excitable to do so. He gets drawn into a fight more in the third round. Toussaint really, really loads up from the outside and almost faux-bolo-punches to no avail. He does it several times in this match.

You can't fault either on their work-rate tonight but while the effort is there, there just isn't much craft behind it. It's a wide, telegraphed display from these gentlemen, early in their pro career. I almost get the feeling that if either of these guys had shortened up their punches just a bit, we'd have had a knockout. For who, I don't know. The fight ends with Toussaint getting his fourth four-round decision victory, but this time a majority decision off the back of three UD's. He'll have to wait for his first professional knockout, I guess. I hope he shortens up those punches and works on his jab.

Teddy Atlas' unofficial scorecard:
Total score: 39-37, for Toussaint

Toussaint Rounds: 2-4
Gangemi: 1




Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing

Jermall Charlo VS Joseph De los Santos: Charlo's Jab Unstoppable

Claiming in the lead-up that he really wasn't "impressed or threatened by him at all" and that his training camp was "great"/"the hardest camp I ever had" to Fight Hype, you got pretty much what he seemed to expect against Joseph De los Santos. DLS, a fighter with quite a few notables on his list of opponents, including Glen Tapia and Eddie Gomez (in losses), still comes with a double digit win and loss column and is on the south side of his thirties. It's no wonder Charlo didn't feel threatened, despite the experience quality gap.

He came in and used his significant height advantage and beautiful jab to control his opponent and hammered him with his powerful right hand until he got a stoppage. It was a jabbing clinic for the most part. Body jab? Double jab? Triple jab? Whatever you want. Charlo is a jab artist. Nothing DLS did could stop it from finding the mark. Charlo KO5 De los Santos on one of several massive overhand right deliveries and the last of three knockdowns. Charlo can hit, he has speed, accuracy and patience. I would really like to see what would happen between him and Demetrius Andrade for Boo Boo's title. . .

Notes:

*The fight aired on FS1 (with commentators Mario Solis and Rich Marotta)
*A Golden Boy Promotions card
*The commentators point out that the ref will have to pick up De los Santos' slipping trunks to prevent an X-rated show. Shortly thereafter, referee Raul Caiz Junior obliges.




Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing   

Errol Spence Junior VS Pipino Cuevas Junior: A Sickening Stoppage For Spence

Hot and well-supported prospect of the welter and light middleweight divisions and former Olympian, Errol Spence Junior comes on strong in the first round to show once again his body punching ability and earn a stoppage over a sloppy looking Pipino Cuevas Junior. Cuevas offered very little for Spence and looked quite soft at this higher weight. He went into his corner immediately after surviving a knockdown and it was reported on camera while he sat on his stool that "He's gettin' ready to throw up" and referee Pat Russell, in his infinite wisdom, decided that was absolutely not made for TV. I'm glad we didn't see that, but it was good to see Spence back in the ring. He's promising. Spence TKO1 Cuevas, it's listed. It might be changed to an RTD2.

Notes:

*A Golden Boy Promotions card
*Aired on FS1 (with commentators Mario Solis and Rich Marotta)


Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing   

Strange Boxing Quotes: Max Kellerman Almost Becomes Larry Merchant

While taking a second look recently at Miguel Cotto getting what I thought looked a slightly premature but likely inevitable stoppage over Delvin Rodriguez, I couldn't help but want to spotlight one of the more awkward attempts I've seen to make a poetic lead-in to a fight.

"Delvin Rodriguez grew up on a farm in the Dominican Republic until he was nine years old and came to this country. And they ate everything they grew and slaughtered, and I asked him if he was ever affected by slaughtering an animal or watching one be slaughtered. He said "No. It was a way of life." Except for one time. The first time he saw a bull slaughtered. Because of the amount of blood, because of the human sound the bull made as it lay dying. If he beats Miguel Cotto tonight, that sound you hear is of the old bull dying-the career that once was Miguel Cotto's. I don't think he can sustain another loss and remain on top."

~Max Kellerman, on HBO, in the lead-in to Miguel Cotto VS Delvin Rodriguez


Jim Lampley's face was priceless. I cannot describe it.





Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing    


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


Boxing Quote Spotlight: Jim Lampley & Roy Jones Junior Agree On Pacquiao's Spite

Shane Mosley On Manny Pacquiao's Physical Strength: Quote Spotlight

Bob Arum On How Pacquiao & Mayweather Will Spend Their Giant Payday

Quote From Teddy Atlas Regarding Boxing Corruption, Absence of A National Boxing Commission & Judge C. J. Ross On ICE SPORTS

I simply wish to spotlight this quote regarding Saturday's showdown for the lineal light middleweight title between Canelo Alvarez and Floyd Mayweather Junior. I plan to post my own thoughts on the fight at some point but for right now, here is the transcript of the televised exchange about this issue, verbatim, or as high an accuracy as I am capable in this post. It's my understanding that it aired on something called ICE SPORTS, of which I am not familiar and can find nothing, but it seems to be connected to ESPN's Sports Center, from the clip I viewed on Youtube.


Robert Flores:

"It was a decided pro-Canelo Alvarez crowd Saturday night in Las Vegas but Floyd "Money" Mayweather silenced them and his opponent to run his record to a perfect 45-0. Welcome inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Robert Flores, joined alongside Teddy Atlas. For Floyd Mayweather, Teddy, it was a dominant-it was a surgical performance over Canelo Alvarez. But not a unanimous decision. C. J. Ross, the lone judge to have it a draw, and another dubious decision for this judge, the same judge that scored Timothy Bradley a win over Manny Pacquiao last June. Your thoughts on the draw by C. J. Ross?"

Teddy Atlas:

"And Another dubious situation and another black eye for boxing and guess what? Boxing is like the cyclops. There's no more eyes left to blacken. This is really destroying the boxing industry and it takes us away from the marvelous performance of Floyd Mayweather. Look, we're in the betting capital of the world. They put a betting line on anything. You can bet on the coin toss in the super bowl. You can bet on the under/over for how long the national anthem's going to go in the super bowl. But I can guarantee you, one line that will not be up in this town tomorrow. And that will be the line of whether or not C. J. Ross, that criminal, that-that corrupt or incompetent, whatever you want to call her, I don't know what she is, but this is the second time she's done this just- as you just finished saying. There will be no line up tomorrow whether or not she will be reprimanded by this commission, or any commission. Because she won't be. Because it doesn't happen in boxing. Boxing is unregulated. It has no national commission like the other sports and it's destroying itself."


Robert Flores:


"Well, that's a subplot of this Saturday, that this magnificent night for Floyd Mayweather-But the headline is "Money" Mayweather stays undefeated, stays dominant."



A currently active available Youtube clip of the exchange:

Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing



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

Ray Mancini On Miguel Vazquez: Quote Spotlight 

Faces of what's at stake: Isaac Chilemba, Quote Spotlight

George Chuvalo Gets Slapped & Insulted: Reaction GIF Spotlight

Errol Spence VS Jesus Tavera: TKO1, No Sweat For Spence

Tonight, in a billed light middleweight contest held at MGM Grand, undefeated prospect and 2012 Olympian Errol Spence Junior faced off against similarly experienced young pro Jesus Tavera for a scheduled 8 rounds. Spence comes out patiently. Patience is a virtue but despite his virtuous demeanor he did not slow down the near-inevitable. While controlling Tavera's head with his right arm he puts a left to the body that takes Tavera down. That southpaw left hook to the body would have made Lucian Bute proud. Before round one ends Spence's killer instinct ends the match on a sustained attack, with perhaps no one punch doing the damage. The ref steps in with no level of hesitance. In the post fight interview Spence says he noticed at the weigh-in that Tavera's body was looking a little soft and he thought he'd test it. Fortunately for Spence, Tavera failed the test. Maybe he didn't recover from that initial knockdown and the better part of the fight was taken out of him there. Regardless, a nice showing by Spence and another win on his record, as well as good exposure on the FS1 broadcast.


Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing