The Lost Art of Boxing by Rick Farris

"Today we have a lot of well conditioned athletes competing in professional boxing. Sadly, most of the training today focuses on athleticism, which is only part of what makes a great fighter. What we are lacking is true boxing skills, mastery of a brilliant art. The truth be known, there are few skilled teachers of this art today. No disrespect to the trainers who share their time & knowledge with young fighters, however, you can't teach what you don't know. For those of you who appreciate the best of boxing, we must turn around and look back in time. Here are a few masters of what has become "a lost art" . . . Robinson, Armstrong, Pep, Duran, Leonard (Benny & Sugar Ray) and a few more. Enjoy!"" - Rick Farris

Vintage Ring Magazines

Jeri found these old Ring Magazines while we were out today making the rounds at the local antique stores. They were dirt cheap. I couldn't pass them up. There's some good reading here. All in good shape too.

Some things never change. Apparently they had the same complaint in the 1950's as in the new millennium.

Excerpt from the November 1956 Ring Magazine editorial.....

“Smart, cagey boxers seem to have become things of the past. Fighters today rely mainly on physical strength and endurance. They make no effort to “out-think” the opposition. Barring possibly Archie Moore and Ray Robinson, there are few mittsters now who know how to combine brain with brawn.”

Undefeated

Arturo Gatti

If you are a fight fan (shame on you if you're not!), you most likely have a favorite fighter, maybe several. But for a true dyed in the wool fight fan it isn't always about winning or losing. When I see an average fighter giving it his best shot against someone that is clearly a better fighter, my heart begins to cheer for him. A true fighter can be beat, but his spirit remains undefeated and unbowed. He (or she) will fight until he (or she) is knocked out, or the ref stops the fight. I will always support these types of fighters. These are the guys (and gals) that make up the bulk of boxing.

It's always easy to sit on the sidelines and see someone get beat, maybe even made to look amateurish but it takes more than most people possess to step into a ring and do battle with another man or woman.

It's that way in life too. Take that loss, shake it off and move on. Let your spirit remain undefeated!

Hap Navarro 1919-2014

The above photo shows Hap Navarro (L) presenting an award to Manuel Ortiz.

By Randy De La O

My condolences to the family and friends of Gabriel "Hap" Navarro. Hap was matchmaker and publicist at the old Hollywood Legion Stadium in the 1950's, as well as a writer and boxing historian. He was a great friend to boxing and in particular, California and West Coast Boxing, He saw much of it first hand. Hap was a much loved figure in the boxing world.

I never met the man in person but I did correspond with him for a time. He was generous with his friendship and his knowledge. He will be missed. R.I.P. Hap!

My Father, Green Chile and Duran vs Leonard II

By Randy De La O

Thirty three years ago today my father came to our home on Newlin Avenue in Whittier for the last time. I remember the date well because this was the day of the Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard rematch. The fight was taking place at the Superdome in New Orleans.

My father had been suffering from cancer at the time and was not doing well at all. I knew he wanted to see the fight but did not have ON TV (subscription television). ON TV and Select TV were still a new concept and not every one had it installed in their homes. I told my father that if he wanted to see the fight I would order it. He and I were both big Duran fans and I just knew that regardless of how he felt, he would not want to miss it.

In the early evening my father, mother and my brother Dennis arrived at the house. Also there were some friends of mine that knew my father well. With all the guest and the kids running around, it was a full house. We were all looking forward to a good fight and hopefully another victory for Duran. Duran had already beat Leonard in their first fight, why would we think otherwise?

My father did not have much of an appetite around that time but Jeri and I decided to make some Chile Verde (Green Chile) for him. It was his favorite dish but just making it was not enough. I knew my father well and he believed that no one made Chile Verde like he did, and he was right. The thing is, I learned by watching. I always paid 100% attention when he made it. I was confident I could make it for him, it would be just like eating his own chile. I also wanted to make it with potatoes on the side, a sort of home fries but not quite (nowadays we just call them “grandpa's potatoes”. It was a unique style taught to him by his father (as was the Chile Verde). It was this simple way of cooking that my father loved best. Jeri and I would put our hearts into it for my father.

We ate our dinner informally, in the living room and with tv trays. As I recall, we were watching the undercard while we ate. I'm happy to tell you that my father not only finished his meal but wanted seconds. It was a shock to my mother who had been unable to get him to eat anything. He really enjoyed it and he let us know. It gave us some hope.

It was now time for the main event, Roberto Duran, "Manos de Piedra" (Hands of Stone) vs Sugar Ray Leonard. The die was cast and the stage was set. My dad and all the rest of us were getting anxious. We expected Duran to win, but he was fighting Leonard, and in boxing, as you know, anything could happen. Years later HBO boxing analyst/announcer Larry Merchant would call boxing "The Theater of the Unexpected". Boy was he ever right. Especially on this night. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

First we had to get through the formalities and the introductions. This was made all the easier when the great Ray Charles sang 'America the Beautiful”. I don't believe anyone ever sang it better. That bothered my father though. He could see it giving Leonard some juice. You could see Leonard moving around behind Ray Charles. He looked pumped up and confidant, he was smiling. Duran, by contrast, showed no emotion on his face. The savage panther that paced to and fro was not there.

Duran and Leonard met in the center of the ring and referee Octavio Meyran gave the final instructions. As always when one of my favorite boxers is fighting, especially in a big event, my heart is in my throat. I always get nervous. Howard Cosell, love him or hate him, God rest his soul, was the announcer. Ray Arcel, along with Freddie Brown, were in Duran's corner. Angelo Dundee in Leonard's. The two best fighters in the world backed by the best cornermen loyalty and money could buy. But it was not only money that brought everyone there that night. It was a true battle for welterweight supremacy. It didn't get any better, it didn't get any bigger. This was it.

Suddenly the fight was on. It was quiet at first. You could see right way that Leonard was fighting differently. He was feinting and boxing right off. I was not worried though, it was still early in the fight but as the rounds went on we could see that this was a different kind of fight. Duran seemed to be a step or two behind Leonard. I felt uncomfortable. My father, God Bless him, was yelling for Duran to pick it up. It was hard for all of us to watch Duran get hit with the sucker bolo punches, harder still to watch him get mocked by Leonard. Duran certainly did as much in his career, so sometimes Karma picks the worst time possible to give it back. You could see the frustration in Duran's eyes. “Stand still and fight me, Cabron”, they seemed to say. Leonard would have none of that. Let me say right here and now to dispel any notion of Leonard being a runner. Leonard was a fighter. He could hit, move side to side, get inside, hit and get out of the way, and he could take it. I would not be an honest fan of the sport of boxing if I said otherwise. He was one of the greats.

Still, going into the eighth round, and despite the fact that Leonard was ahead on points, it was still anybody's fight. Duran was never close to being hurt. There seemed to be a moment of confusion. We all stopped talking and tried to figure out what just happened. It's been shown over the years; on television, Youtube and with countless stories and photos but on that night it unfolded so fast, so damned unexpectedly, everyone was in a state of shock. My father, the entire household, were dumbstruck! They announced that Roberto Duran had just quit. Leonard had won the fight. It was unthinkable.

The ending was a blur. I remember Duran walking away, his hands down and Leonard walking up to Duran and landing a blow but Duran was unfazed by it. He waved his arms and the fight was stopped. Leonard was ecstatic. He jumped  up to the ring corner and and threw his hands up in victory. At that moment we knew it was true. Duran quit! That was the long and short of it and try as we might nothing was going to change it. The era of Roberto Duran was over.

My father was disappointed to say the least. We all were. I was hoping Duran would win this one for my father. It didn't happen. Instead it was the worst of all possible scenarios. It was a dark day in boxing if you were a Latino boxing fan. There was no argument to fight back with. No legs to argue with. There was no opportunity to make up a reasonable (however unlikely) excuse.

That was the last time my father visited my home. His cancer worsened and he was in and out of the hospital or home in bed. Either way he was mostly bedridden until his death the following year at the Whittier Hospital, where he finally succumbed to prostate cancer on May 7, 1981.

My father was a boxer in the Army, a featherweight. He was proud of the fact that he remained at 126 pounds all of his life. He believed that the best punch a fighter could possess was a good jab. Everything else worked off the jab. His heavyweight champions were; Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano. He was a boxing fan to the core, a knowledgeable boxing fan.

A side note: my father was still alive when the Leonard vs Tommy Hearns fight was announced. We made a twenty dollar bet on the fight. He thought Hearns would knock out Leonard. He died before the fight. His reasoning's for his picks were sound. Again, it's like Larry Merchant says, Boxing is the Theater of the Unexpected”, to which I would add, so is life.

So you see, whenever I think or hear of Duran and Leonard's second fight, I automatically think of my father.

Manny Pacquiao Dominates Brandon Rios

No surprises here in Saturday;s fight. Pacquiao was just too much for a game but over matched Brandon Rios. I give all the credit in the world to Rios who showed he has a huge heart in this fight. I didn't expect him to win but he was the one I was rooting for. There is absolutely no shame in losing to a great fighter like Manny Pacquiao! He showed plenty of character tonight in the ring.

Manny Pacquiao vs Brandon Rios

Photo Courtesy of Ringtv.com

By Randy De La O

First, the brouhaha this week caught on video:

By now everyone knows that there was a blowup between Freddie Roach and Team Rios at a boxing gym in Macau, China. Let's be fair here and put the responsibility square on the shoulders of the one who deserves it, Freddie Roach. Yes, Freddie Roach. The prevailing thought here is that, “Well, yes, Roach was wrong but.....

There is no “But” here. True, Team Rios extended the training time for their fighter. It happens all the time. It happens in gyms and boardrooms across the country. It's a reality of life. A minor inconvenience at worst. No crime or slight here. If Roach had a problem with the time, the person to address the problem to would be the gym owner. As the owner of the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Roach is used to giving the orders and having his way. That's fine in his own gym. Instead he took it upon himself, to confront Garcia, as Garcia was being interviewed, and literally told him to “Get the fuck out of here”. To his credit Garcia handled himself admirably throughout the entire fracas.

Roach, regardless of where the blame lies, Parkinson's or not, still has a fighter's heart, and at some point, felt threatened, put up his dukes, and was kicked in cowardly fashion by Rios fitness trainer Alex Ariza. Roach responded with racial slurs and the whole thing got out of hand. Rios, also to his credit, stayed outside of the chaos.

Do I think Freddie Roach is a racist? No I don't. Probably frustrated by his own physical limitations and unable to take charge of the situation as he is used to, blurted out those words, (I won't repeat them here) to hurt Ariza. It was said in the heat of anger. Roach has already proven himself a decent human being through the years with all the fighters he has worked with. I don't recall any fighter ever feeling slighted. Was it incredibly stupid? Yes it was but not unforgivable.

If Ariza was on my team he would have been fired and shown the door that very night. A fitness trainer is probably the most overrated and useless member of any boxing team, which may be why he was fired by Roach to begin with.

On Rios' mocking of Roach a few years back, get over it folks. Rios was young and it's what young men do. Also not unforgivable. I think he knows better now. I have said some pretty stupid things in my life. I'm just lucky it wasn't caught on tape and played over and over for the world to see. More than likely you have done the same. Grow up and let it go!

On Robert Garcia: he is a former lightweight champion and one of the best trainers around today. He deserves, at the very least, as much respect as Freddie Roach. He's earned it the hard way.


About the Fight:

As someone who loves boxing, this is all that matters to me, the fight, this is the meat and potatoes of the sport, a sport that will continue to thrive regardless of what is going on around it.

I like Rios, I always have. But...... in Manny Pacquiao he has a huge mountain to climb. If Pacquiao comes in as he always has, I expect him to be too much for Rios, who has never faced a fighter of this caliber. Pacquiao, has, for the last decade and depending on who you talk to, been either one or two on the pound for pound list. That's saying a lot. If Pacquiao begins to show the effects of his knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez and if old age is beginning to creep in, Rios will capitalize on it. I expect Pacquiao to win this fight, but as always, let the best man win'

Bradley Defeats Marquez

Photo Courtesy of RingTV.Com

By Randy De La O

Juan Manuel Marquez...

There is something that looms in a great fighter's horizon. It is something called Karma. If you fight long enough you will eventually run headlong into it. It is unavoidable if you fight past the expiration date. Karma is a bitch!

Whatever is meted out during a great and long career is eventually meted out to you in return, in boxing and in life. Boxing is a great sport and when you make a decision to be a fighter, you do so knowing full well, that at some point you may be humbled, hurt or worse. It's a built in part of the sport. Most are in denial of this but in the quiet times you can be keenly aware of this.

Karma came to cash in her chips with Juan Manuel Marquez last night. For Marquez it was one fight too many. Like almost every other fighter before him, he wanted more.

Is it time for Marquez to retire? Well. that's his decision not mine but if he had asked me (I don't know why he didn't) I would have told him "You just had one of the greatest knockouts in boxing history against the man most think is the pound for pound king. You got your justice, hang'em up"!

No, he wanted one more title belt around his waist. Maybe if I was good enough I would have done the same, who knows? The fact remains, there comes a time when you just can't pull the trigger anymore.

Tim Bradley...

He was right about one thing. it is his time. Floyd Mayweather better not stop to look over his shoulder because someone is gaining on him. Bradley fought a very good fight last night, a very smart fight. It was a great performance in a good fight. He's making his case for his pound for pound ranking. Congratulations to Tim Bradley on his victory.

Timothy Bradley vs Juan Manuel Marquez: Weathering the Storm

By Randy De La O

If any fighter in recent years has shown the propensity for endurance, stamina and an indomitable will, it is Juan Manuel Marquez. Not only for his endurance in a fight but in his career as well. Fighting in the shadows of his countrymen, the great Mexican Warriors, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales and certainly in the shadow of Manny Pacquiao, who has been one of two fighters in the world – the other being Floyd Maywether – that has ruled the pound for pound rankings in boxing for the last decade or so (Marquez lost a 12 round unanimous decision to Mayweather in 2009). It has been particularly galling to Marquez (and his fans) because Marquez believes he was the winner in the first three fights. I am not going to take up that argument today. Its enough to say that win lose or draw, the fights were razor thin between them. That came to an end last December when Marquez widened that gap to the size of the Grand Canyon by knocking out Pacquiao in the 6th round in what has to be considered one of boxing's greatest KO.

Bradley has also shown the ability to endure. He took Manny Pacqiauo's welterweight title in a highly controversial split decision. Though no fault of his own, it was a decision that has had a negative affect on his career, at least in popularity. He has handled that well. Whether you believe he won or lost is immaterial here. What matters going into this fight is that he can survive and belongs with, the best in the welterweight division. That much we know.

In his last fight earlier this year, Bradley put an exclamation point on that matter, by fighting what may very well be the fight of the year, when he took on Ruslan Provodnikov. It's enough to say that he won that battle through sheer will. If his heart was ever in question, it was answered that night.

So, going into this fight, we have two good men; one man younger, at his physical peak and with a big future in front of him should he win. The other, older and certainly much more battle worn and tested, who brings with him the experience that comes with a long and great career. He has proven his doubters wrong before but at forty years of age we just never know when the years will come back to haunt him.

Who will weather the storm?

Whether he wins or loses, he is nearing the end of a great career. Marquez is a shoo in for the Hall of Fame. Watch this fight, and watch Marquez, His career has been marked by his ability to endure and to never stop looking for a way to win. That has become his hallmark. It will be a while before we see his like again.

Timothy Bradley will defend his WBO Welterweight title tonight against Juan Manuel Marquez  at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight will be shown on HBO PPV.

It's no secret to anyone that knows me that I will be pulling for Marquez to win this fight. That said, as a fan of the greatest sport in the world, I say this with absolute sincerity, “Let the best man win!”.

Klitschko vs Povetkin

AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev

Today, I had the absolute displeasure of watching, perhaps the worst, and certainly, at least in recent years, the most boring fight in the heavyweight division. I was kind of feeling lately that maybe I wasn't really giving Klitscho (either one, who cares) enough credit. Maybe I was looking through skewed eyes, after so many years of great American heavyweight champions. Maybe I was biased.I'm going to give this guy a chance.

Then the fight between Klitscho and Provetkin began and in no time at all, I thought to myself, "No, no, you were right". The brothers just happen to be fighting trough the luckiest period in heavyweight history. That is the long and short of it.

That they are the best of their era is not in dispute. That they are all time greats capable of beating any of the great heavyweights of boxing's past is. They are not even in the same league. They are the best in what has to be considered the weakest era in heavyweight history.

The fight today? Jab, hold, and throw Provetkin to the floor. Next round: Jab, hold and throw Provetkin, Next round:jab, hold and throw Provetkin to the Floor, and on and on it went. Yes, Klitscho won the fight, he won every round in fact. He pitched a shutout but I was really hoping in the final round that he was going to get disqualified. How great would that have been? What it comes down to is "Does anyone really care.

That was my unbiased view!

Roberto Duran: Redemption and Legacy

By Randy De La O

Something I learned years ago, both as an old adage and as a life experience is that “To err is human”, and perhaps the best example of this is Roberto Duran's second fight with Sugar Ray Leonard, when he uttered the now infamous words “No Mas!”, literally translated “No More!”

Duran, at his peak, was the epitome of Latin Machismo. Unrelenting, primal and savage. His behavior inside and outside the ring was often times crude. He conceded nothing. Yet, the very second he spoke those words, all that he was, was no more. His career was thought to be over. He was expected to never fight again. For a time, it seemed the entire boxing world; fans, sports writers, contemporary boxers and everyone capable of expressing an opinion, turned their collective backs on Roberto Duran. Even trainer Ray Arcel turned his back on Duran, never again working the corner for Duran. No other fighter in boxing history, to my knowledge, had fallen so far. Even Mike Tyson's biting of Evander Holifield's ear pales by comparison.

We may never really know why Duran quit that night in New Orleans but the fact remains he did and it is beyond dispute. Maybe he needed a bowel movement, or maybe it was just complete frustration, or maybe it was something sinister. I don't know. No one does. Everything is just pure speculation.

What I do know, what I am absolutely certain of, is that Roberto Duran is no coward. This is the man who moved up to welterweight after a seven year reign, as perhaps the greatest lightweight champion that ever lived, to pursue the Welterweight title, beating west coast favorite former welterweight king, Carlos Palomino, and tough Monroe Brookes, before finally securing a title fight with Sugar Ray Leonard, and winning that fight. He had already proven himself countless times.

He would prove himself again, after the second fight with Leonard, but not before being humbled by Wilfredo Benitez and Kirkland Laing. The year immediately following his 1981 loss to Leonard was a dark time for Duran. For Duran 1981 and1982 was a short visit through hell.

After his back to back losses to Benitez and Laing Duran fought and beat Jimmy Batten. His next fight, in January of 1983, would be at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles against legendary puncher and former welterweight champ Pipino Cuevas. Duran stopped Cuevas in four and secured a fight with Junior middleweight champion Davey Moore, stopping Moore in eight rounds, and finding some redemption in the process. The world was ready to forgive and Duran was once again in the business of being Duran. Maybe not the same old Duran of the past, some of the fire was gone but it was enough to take Marvin Hagler, later that same year, to the 15th round and giving him an education in a close losing effort. Cuevas, Moore and Hagler in the same year. It just doesn't get any better than that.

In his next fight, he would be stopped by Tommy Hearns, in what has to be considered the most devastating loss of his career, he would have many more fights before winning the Middleweight title from Iran Barkley. The Barkley fight would be his last hurrah. He would have his last fight at the age of fifty, losing a 12 round unanimous decision against Hector Camacho.

Today boxers are fighting well into their thirties and forties but back in the day, the late twenties were considered old, or at least the beginning of old age for a fighter. That makes the later stages of Duran's career all the more remarkable. At that stage, with no catch weights (unheard of) Duran moved up and fought Carlos Palomino, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Iran Barkley and at an even later stage, Vinnie Pazienza (twice and Hector Camacho (twice).

Yes, quitting is a cardinal sin in boxing and Duran has paid the price. A sin is like a stain on a fine piece of furniture, it can't be rubbed out or sanded out, it cannot be erased, it will always be there. There are some that will see nothing but the stain regardless of the beauty of the furniture and there will be others that will see that fine piece of furniture for what it is, weathered, worn and with a fine patina to it. Hardened by the years Duran has worn that stain like a man.

When I think of Roberto Duran, I don't think about the man that quit in the 8th round of his fight with Sugar Ray Leonard. What I think about is a man who by one single act, destroyed his career and then found it in himself to rise up again, to persevere, shouldering the abandonment of friends and peers and even his country, to fight his way back to the top, stains and all. No fighter ever fell lower and no fighter ever climbed higher. That is his redemption and that is his legacy. Roberto Duran a quitter? You decide.

The Heart and Soul of Boxing

Just a thought: I have my favorites when it comes to fighters, we all do, but when it comes to putting on a good fight, you don't have to be an all time great, you just have to be willing. Some of the biggest hearts in boxing belong to guys that were not on the A list of fighters, or if they made the A list, it was their heart, their willingness to mix it and stand their ground. These are the guys that I support. This is the heart and soul of boxing.

There is no shame in not wanting to be a fighter but if you don't then get out of the game and let the real fighters earn the money. The shame comes from taking the money and never really trying.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, vs Brian Vera: A Criminal Decision

By Randy De La O

Last night's fight (and I use that word embarrassingly) between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Brian Vera, turned out to be a one sided ass whupping by the underdog journeyman Vera. yet, despite all the obvious evidence proving otherwise, the judges still awarded a unanimous decision to Chavez. The gap was so wide it border's on criminal. Judges Carla Caiz scored the fight 96-94, Marty Denkin 97-93 and Gwen Adair 98-92.

Chavez Jr has proven to have no respect for the sport of boxing, or for boxing fans for that matter. Not when he refuses to train, parties like there is no tomorrow, can't pass a drug test and whines like five year old brat.

I was hoping to see Vera KO Chavez because that is the only way anyone will win a fight. Come to think of it, if Chavez were to be knock out it would probably result in a draw, or perhaps a disqualification for hitting Chavez too hard. Who knows anymore?

Chavez Sr deserves much of the blame too. Not just for last night's “fight” but for mollycoddling his son throughout his career. In my opinion, and in the opinion of men I know, a father's job is to raise his son to be a man, to stand on his own two feet and accept the consequences of his actions. Chavez Sr taught none of these things to his son, and as a result, one of the greatest surnames in boxing has been reduced to a joke.

Brian Vera out hustling and out fighting Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

I don't want see a rematch, Chavez doesn't deserve one. Vera doesn't need one because he, along with everyone else, knows who won that fight. His stock went up last night. My advice to Vera? Simple, leave HBO and go with Showtime.

I love boxing and it angers and embarrasses me when this sort of thing happens in our sport. Boxing is alive and well but it has often times been up against the ropes. I believe any fighter that is getting paid is obligated to train and perform - win, lose or draw - to the best of his or her ability. To do otherwise destroys the credibility of boxing.

Ken Norton Has Passed Away

By Randy De La O

Former Heavyweight Champ Ken Norton has passed away. Norton fought during what was possibly the greatest heavyweight era in the history of boxing. He won the first of three fights with Muhammad Ali. He will be remembered as one of boxing's good guys.

On a personal note, I met Ken Norton in 1976,when I fought Eduardo Barba at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. He was one of the announcers/analysts for the fight. At 6"3' and with a Herculean build, he was an imposing figure. At one point during the fight I was up against the ropes, near Norton, when I heard him say, "I think De La O is tired". He was right, I was.

My family and I want to express our condolences to the Norton family.

R.I.P. Champ!

Floyd "Money" Mayweather vs Saul "Canelo" Alvarez

By Randy De La O

Of all the sayings, adages and quotes that run through boxing, one holds truer than most, "It's boxing and anything can happen" or as Larry Merchant is so fond of saying "Boxing is the theater of the unexpected".

On one hand we have one fighter who thus far has remained undefeated throughout his career, winning all 44 of his fights (though many feel he got a gift in his first fight with Jose Luis Castillo) and with one exception he has fought all comers. He has the experience, however, he is 36 years of age going into this fight and though he looked great in his last fight with Robert Guerrero, there is always that chance that this will be the fight where it all catches up with him.

On the other hand we have another fighter, also undefeated in 43 fights - one of those fights a four round draw early in his career - younger, stronger, confident and with KO power in his hands. Though he is undefeated and has fought some good fighters, including Austin Trout, he has fought nowhere near the same quality of opposition that Mayweather has.

We know who Mayweather is and what he is capable of, so the question is: Is Alvarez really as good as he seems or is he the product of smart marketing and promoting? my guess is a little of both. I think he has better than a punchers chance in this fight.

Alvarez will need to cut off the ring on Mayweather - no easy task - and go to the body early and use his jab. Nothing that hasn't already been tried by anyone and everyone.

All that being said I believe Floyd Mayeather Jr. will win a 12 round unanimous decision over Canelo Alvarez. Too fast, too smart, to mobile and he knows how to "Avoid" and he knows how to win.

My hope is for an honest, exciting fight with no controversy.

I also hope Alvarez is up to the job at hand because I'll be pulling for him to knock out Mayweather. Hey!! It's boxing and anything can happen!

Showtime Boxing: Jhonny Gonzalez and Leo Santa Cruz Stop Their Opponents

I missed he fights last night because Time Warner cable is no longer carrying Showtime (along with CBS and several other channels). I was shocked to hear that Jhinny Gonzalez KO'ed Abner Mares. My pick was Mares, I thought he would prove to be too much for Gonzalez. You just never know. Kudos to Gonzalez, one tough kid!

Leo Santa Cruz just continues to impress. Showtime continues to move ahead of HBO in the quality of matches they have given us over the last couple of years.

A post fight interview with Abner Mares. One classy guy. He makes no excuses. He'll be back. He was asked what he needs to work on. His answer was "Everything". He got caught, it happens. It's a learning experience. One thing I notice about a lot of young fighter, is that they keep their hands too low and their chins too high. Whatever happened to keeping your chin tucked behind your shoulders? Keeping your hands up? These are the basics.

Post fight interview with Leo Santa Cruz

Emile Griffith by Roger Esty

Emile Griffith

My friend, artist Roger Esty's rendition of the late Emile Griffith.Beautifully done.  Posted here with his expressed permission.

Emile Griffith Dies At 75

Emile Griffith Has Passed Away

2008 World boxing Hall of Fame

(Photo Credit: Monica Farris)

Regarding the above photo: I took a few photos of Griffith that day and this photo was mixed in with the ones I took. Monica Farris, wife of my friend Rick Farris, took this photo that day. My apologies. No harm no foul! I never want to take credit for something I did not do.

Emile Griffith, Roger Esty and  Gaspar Ortega
at the 2009 World Boxing Hall of Fame

Former middleweight champion Emile Griffith passed away today Another great loss for boxing. I  took these two photo of the late, great Emile Griffith, respectively, in 2008 and 2009 at the World Boxing Hall of Fame at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel.My good friend, artist Roger Esty is shown with Griffith and Ortega in the bottom photo. I'm happy to say I shook Emile Griffith's  hand and sad to say I forgot to take a picture with him.

Griffith story was told in the documentary "Ring of Fire" a few years back. I'm posting it here in it's entirety. 

R.I.P Emile Griffith

Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Chavez: Silver Age Legends

Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Chavez

By Randy De La O

Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Chavez, two fighters that moved me every time they stepped into the ring. Like every fighter before them, their time has come and gone. Their careers are part of sports history now. We don't like our sports heroes to get old, especially our fighters. We want them to keep hitting home runs, getting a touchdown or keep on knocking out their opponents. we don't want it to end! But it does.

Looking back, getting together with friends and family, eating some good food and drinking some cold beer, losing some money and watching guys like Duran and Chavez fight was like a slice of heaven to me. I think we all knew we were in a special era in boxing.

I mean, it wasn't just Duran and Chavez, but Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Sanchez,Ramos, Lopez (Little Red), Chacon, Arguello, Olivares, Pryor, Holmes, Foreman and Ali and Frazier, just too, too many to list here. 

Duran was way past his prime by the time Chavez was hitting his stride. They never fought each other. It's my belief that Duran would have beaten Chavez. I don't think he would have knocked him out. Chavez at his peak had a cast iron chin and an immovable will. But when Duran was Duran, he was a wild, feral, unconscionable animal. A savage, if you will. I would like to believe, that had they fought it would have been one for the books. This is one of my favorite 'What if" fights. 

If the 30's, 40's and 50's were the "Golden Age of Boxing" than the 60's, 70's and 80's have to be considered the "Silver Age". I miss those days!