Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Calzaghe: Congratulations Joe!

I think it’s too handy of an excuse to say that it was “Father Time”, and not Joe Calzaghe, that beat Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins himself said age would not be a factor in this fight. The truth is, Hopkins was beaten by a better man last night. Calzaghe and the United Kingdom, but especially the people of Wales have a lot to be proud of. Their man won straight up and fair and square. Besides, Calzaghe , at 36 is no spring chicken himself.


Hopkins caught Calzaghe with a right hand midway through the first round, as Calzaghe was coming in. It landed flush and Calzaghe was knocked down. It was Hopkins’ best moment in the fight. The next few rounds seemed to go in Hopkins favor. He appeared to be controlling the pace of the fight. By the early middle rounds Calzaghe started to find himself and started throwing punches with more conviction. Calzaghe was not intimidated by Hopkins. Hopkins on the other hand was relying on a lunging right hand, while leading with his head, holding and twisting Calzaghe, and fighting against the ropes. It wasn’t pretty.

In the later rounds Hopkins started to look confused. His punches lacked any real strength and Cazaghe began to feel like he could win this fight. Hopkins sealed the deal when he was hit with a punch that landed just below the belt line and he went into one of the finest acting jobs I have ever seen. As far as I am concerned Hopkins was surrendering. He was looking for a way out of a fight he no longer believed he was capable of winning. Referee Joe “fair but firm” Cortez allowed him his rest and the fight continued. It was embarrassing. It became embarrassing again in the 11th round when Hopkins again went into his low blow act, but this time Cortez wisely ignored Hopkins forcing the fight to continue.


Several times in the later rounds Hopkins complained of being hit behind the head. He shouldn’t have, he was just as guilty. There were also a few times when out of view of referee Cortez, Hopkins attempted several low blows of his own. By this point I wanted to see Hopkins knocked out. As far as I’m concerned Hopkins went out with a whimper. Made all the worse by trying to convince interviewer Max Kellerman and anyone who was listening that he won the fight. He was right about one thing. The public knows who won that fight and it wasn’t Bernard Hopkins. It might be unfair, but even in losing, I expected more from Hopkins.

Poetry Reading: Wislawa Szymborska

For the cultured fight fans among us! This poem was sent to me by my good friend "Ridge" over at Ridges Place.

To be a boxer, or not to be there
at all. O Muse, where are our teeming crowds?
Twelve people in the room, eight seats to spare
it's time to start this cultural affair.
Half came inside because it started raining,
the rest are relatives. O Muse.

The women here would love to rant and rave,
but that's for boxing. Here they must behave.
Dante's Infemo is ringside nowadays.
Likewise his Paradise. O Muse.

Oh, not to be a boxer but a poet,
one sentenced to hard shelleying for life,
for lack of muscles forced to show the world
the sonnet that may make the high-school reading lists
with luck. O Muse,
O bobtailed angel, Pegasus.

In the first row, a sweet old man's soft snore:
he dreams his wife's alive again. What's more,
she's making him that tart she used to bake.
Aflame, but carefully-don't burn his cake!
we start to read. O Muse.

Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Calzaghe

Tomorrow night, Saturday April 19, 2008 reigning undisputed Super Middleweight Joe Calzaghe of Wales moves up in weight to challenge Philadelphia’s Bernard Hopkins for Hopkins Light Heavyweight title at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a battle of pound for pound greats. The fight will be broadcast live on HBO.

This one is a tough fight to pick. Certainly Hopkins has fought the better opponents over the course of his career and at 43 shows no real signs of slowing down, and seems to be at the top of his game. Still, he is 43 and it takes just one fight too many to become an old man overnight. With the exception of his two fights with Jermain Taylor, both close losses that might have gone either way, Hopkins has always found a way to win. A partial list of his victims include John David Jackson, Glen Johnson, Felix Trinidad, William Joppy, Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Tarver and Ronald “Winky” Wright.

Calzaghe’s biggest wins, at least to American fans, are over Jeff Lacy, Peter Manfredo Jr. and Mikkel Kessler, all good competent fighters but definitely not in the same league as Hopkins foes, so it makes it a little difficult to gauge. The question for me is not: how good Hopkins is and how much does he have left? The real question is: just how good is Calzaghe really? Hopkins has a habit of starting slow in his fights. He’ll need to step up the pace early and stay close. Hopkins is a grinder and not a one punch knockout artist, so he will have his work cut out for him. Calzaghe is a busy fighter and has a heavier hand than Hopkins. He’ll need to take advantage of being the naturally bigger man and use his speed. Oscar De La Hoya used speed and movement in his fight with Hopkins, keeping the fight close, before being stopped by Hopkins by a body shot. That may be the blueprint for Calzaghe to follow. My pick is Hopkins by unanimous decision.



Hopkins-Calzaghe weigh-in gallery

Fathers and Sons Honored

Jesus Pimental and Frank Baltazar Sr. at the Father and Son dinner in Commerce, California

The following photos are from this past weekend's Golden State Boxer's Association 1st annual "Don Fraser Lifetime Achievement Award" at Steven's Steakhouse in the city of Commerce, California. Frank Baltazar Sr. along with his sons Frankie Jr, Tony (The Tiger) and Bobby were honored, as well as many other fathers and sons, for their involvement and participation in boxing. Congratulations to the Baltazars and all the honorees.

In the following photo from left to right are Mando Ramos, Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Danny "Little Red" Lopez. Ramos, Chacon and Lopez are three of Southern California's most beloved boxers. What a great photo of four of the biggest hearts in boxing! Thanks Frank.

Photo courtesy of Frank Baltazar Sr.

Mando Ramos, Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Danny "Lil Red' Lopez.

Bobby Baltazar, Ray Mancini and Frankie Baltazar Jr.

Danny "Dapper" Lopez and Carol Steindler (Daughter of Howie Steindler)

More on Last Nights Fights

Showtime Boxing

Clinton Woods grimaces during an exchange with Antonio Tarver

Antonio Tarver connects with a left hook on Clinton Woods

Glen Johnson catches Chad Dawson with a right hand

Chad Dawson landing a right hand of his own on Glen Johnson

HBO Boxing

This was the story last night- Miguel Cotto Landing almost everything he threw at Alfonso Gomez

A warrior goes down

Antonio Maragarito's total breakdown, both physically and Psychologically of Kermit Cintron.

Kermit Cintron getting the worst of an exchange of jabs

Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito

Both Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley commented on Antonio Margarito's manhood last night, describing him as a real man. It's hard to argue with them, but I would include Miguel Cotto in the same category. What was left unsaid about both of these men, and even more so in Cotto's fight, is that despite the opportunity, neither winner sought to humiliate their opponent. How easy would it have been for Cotto to tease, torment and humiliate Alfonso Gomez into defeat. He chose instead to fight with dignity, despite the obvious difference in skills, and allowed Gomez to keep his dignity in losing. When you think about the intense rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican fighters, it would have been easy to have taken advantage of Gomez. The fact that he didn't says a lot about Cotto's character. If I wasn't a fan of Miguel Cotto before this fight, I am now. A class act!

The same goes for Margarito. When the point came in the fight that it was obvious who was going to win this fight, Margarito just kept throwing punches, as he always does. Even with Kermit Cintron's constant complaining about being hit behind the head, despite the fact that he was bending over so much, without throwing any punches, leaving Margarito no choice but to hit him. Cintron, throughout the fight kept forgetting the first rule in boxing "Protect yourself at all times".

Both men are deserving fighters and are tentatively scheduled to fight on July 26th of this year. It can't possibly be anything but a war between two real fighters, two real men. It's a fight worth waiting for. Other fighters should take note, especially Floyd Mayweather Jr. This is how real champions fight.

Cotto, Margarito, Tarver and Dawson win their fights Tonight

HBO Boxing

Miguel Cotto vs Alfonso Gomez
Kermit Cintron vs Antonio "Tony" Margarito
The Boardwalk Hall, Alantic City, New Jersey

Someday in the distant future, Alfonso Gomez' grandson is going to ask him " Grandpa, did you really fight one of the greatest fighters in the world? For a championship? What happened, did you win?" And he'll reply or should reply "No grandson, but I gave it everything I had and I never took a backward step, I just wasn't good enough, but it was an honor just to be in the same ring with a fighter like Miguel Cotto!"

That pretty much sums it up for me. That Miguel Cotto is an infinitely superior fighter is beyond dispute. It was evident from the first round. In the second round, Gomez slipped and it was wrongly ruled a knockdown by referee Earl Brown but in the long run none of it mattered. Cotto was too good, too fast, and too strong, too much of everything. There is not too much to say. It was a vigorous workout for Cotto and nothing more.

I was pulling for Gomez, and like so many of his fans, hoping beyond hope that he would find some way to beat the odds. His corner never really had an answer for anything, especially the body shots. Like their fighter, they too were in over their heads. Gomez has nothing to be ashamed of. He did what he could and he fought with courage. What more can we ask of anyone? The fight was stopped by the doctor after the fifth round and rightly so. If he hadn't, someone might have went to jail.

Someday in the distant future Miguel Cotto's grandson might ask him "Grandpa, who was the bravest fighter you ever fought?" His answer just might be "Alfonso Gomez".


The fight between Antonio Margarito and Kermit Cintron was a little better of a fight. Margarito started aggressive and stayed aggressive throughout the fight. He had already ruined Cintron's
psyche in their first fight on April 23, 2005. You could see the difference in the way they threw their punches. Margarito threw with confidence, with accuracy and consistently. Cintron threw his punches hoping for the best and that was the difference. It was stopped in the 1:57 of the six round by a devastating left to the body that took what was left of Cintron's will. It was painful to watch.

Showtime Boxing

Antonio Tarver vs Clinton Woods
Chad Dawson vs Glen Johnson
The Saint Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida

Over at Showtime, Antonio Tarver had his way with Clinton Woods and churned out a lopsided unanimous decision. It wasn't unexpected. I'm not sure what is in store for Tarver but he seems to be following in the footsteps of James Toney in that he talks a lot of smack and at times, fights lazy. I wouldn't take anything for granted, especially if he has to fight either Chad Dawson or Glen Johnson, who put on a good show of their own earlier in the evening, with Dawson winning a controversial decision over Johnson. It was a tough fight to judge but I might have given the edge to Johnson, in a fight that turned out to be a war.

Alfonso Gomez

Every once in a while a fighter comes along that just tugs at your heart. Alfonso Gomez is one of those fighters. You can't help pulling for him, and guys like him. Gomez is one of those regular Joes that make up the world of boxing. Nothing spectacular about him in the grand sense, in the way guys like Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard,Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sugar Shane Mosley or Oscar De La Hoya and so many others were. Right off the bat these guys were groomed for greatness (with the possible exception of Hagler), not that they didn't earn it or deserve it and they are all among my personal favorites, but a guy like Gomez might have spent his career in boxing obscurity if not for The Contender's television show.

Somehow he earned a spot on the show and he made the most of it. He must have known that this was his one shot. Here was Gomez, a welterweight really, in a middleweight competition. I don't think anyone really gave him any consideration. His chance came when he fought and beat Peter Manfredo, it came when he stepped up to fight Manfredo and said "If I can't beat the best than I don't deserve to be here". He proved that he did indeed belong there. He was the smallest guy on the show but he had the biggest heart and that is what carried the day for him. His "Rocky" like heart, and you can take your pick of Rockys; Marciano, Graziano or Balboa, is what got him here. The kid has heart and that is the boxing trait that I admire above any other.

I have no idea if Gomez is going to win his fight with Miguel Cotto tonight. I know that he is fighting one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world tonight. I know that in reality he is a big underdog and it would be a huge upset if he won. I know the odds are against him, just like they were against Buster Douglas on February 11, 1990, when he fought and destroyed Mike Tyson. I know that there are times when a huge heart just will not be denied. Maybe tonight will be one of those times.

I wish the kid luck tonight. I'll be pulling for him to fulfill his dream for himself and for the rest of us who never quite made it.

Tarver and Woods vs Roy Jones

Roy Jones and Clinton Woods shown side by side in their fights with Roy Jones. You make the comparisons.

Showtime Boxing: Antonio Tarver vs Clinton Woods, and Chad Dawson vs Glen Johnson.

All photos courtesy of Alex Stapleton of Showtime Networks, Inc.

This Saturday April 12, Showtime will be broadcasting live at 9PM EDT / 9PM PDT (tape delayed) the two championship light heavyweight match-ups between Antonio Tarver and Clinton Woods, and Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.
Tarver, a southpaw, and Woods should be an interesting fight, with both the IBO and IBF Light heavyweight titles at stake, with each man holding a piece of the Light Heavyweight title. They have a couple of common opponents in Roy Jones and Glenn Johnson, with Tarver winning two of three with Jones, losing the first fight by a controversial majority decision, then winning the next two fights, the second bout by second round stoppage. He split two fights with Glen Johnson, losing a split decision and winning the second by unanimous decision. Tarver also dropped a decision to Bernard Hopkins.

Woods on the other hand was dominated by Jones and was stopped in the six round of their fight. His trilogy with Johnson resulted in one draw, one loss and one win. Still he is a rugged British fighter and can't be counted out just yet. He also owns two wins over tough Julio Gonzalez. I see Tarver winning the fight by late rounds KO. But he's going to have to work for it.

Glen Johnson, another southpaw, has won his last three fights inside the distance against mediocre opposition ,and will be facing a difficult fighter in WBC Champ Chad Dawson, who is undefeated with twenty five wins and seventeen knockouts. My gut instinct says Dawson wins this one.

Clinton Woods

Clinton Woods

Antonio Tarver and Danny Santiago
(4th round TKO by Tarver)

Antonio Tarver and Danny Santiago

Glen Johnson

Glen Johnson

Chad Dawson

Chad Dawson

Keeny Teran

Keeny Teran will be inducted (posthumously) into the California Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday June 21, 2008. Teran was an extremely popular amateur and professional fighter in the 1940's and 1950's. Keeny Teran's fight with friend and rival Gil Cadilli , on June 22, 1951 at the Hollywood Legion Stadium, is generally considered one of the greatest six round fights in boxing, and certainly in California. According to Arnie Koslow,official timekeeper at the Olympic, ..."it was the best six round fight I ever saw in my life and I'm glad it ended in a draw."

As I mentioned in an earlier post on Keeny, I grew up with Keeny's nephew, Mike Teran and was very close to the Teran family. I know they are proud of his upcoming induction to the California Hall of Fame. It was a long time coming. Congratulations Keeny! Frank Baltazar Sr. was instrumental in making it happen. He also contributed the following photos and articles. Thanks Frank.

Kenny Teran passed away at the age of 62 on February 11, 1995.

Click on any of the images for a larger readable view

Rick Farris

The following photos were sent to me by Frank Baltazar Sr, who has been more than generous with his photos. Rick Farris, as I have mentioned before is a former amateur and professional boxer back in the 1960’ and 1970’s. He was, for a time, trained by Mel Epstein, my former trainer. Farris’ is a boxing historian and writer and much of his writings on boxing in Los Angeles, Southern California and the Main Street Gym can be found at Cyber Boxing Zone.

Monica Farris, Lucia Rijker, Rick Farris

This was taken at Main St. Gym in 1967.

Amos "Big Train" Lincoln, Johnny Flores, Ricky Farris, unknown, Jerry Quarry, Joe Shelton

Rick Farris Sugar Ray Robinson Unknown - 1969- Main St. Gym