Don King Still in the Mix

Don King may be down, but he's not out. While he's no longer the biggest promoter in boxing he's still out there hustling. He is pictured above with Marco Antonio Barrera.

Don King might be 76 years-old and he might not be as active as a promoter as he once was, but he says two things are going to happen real soon.

The first will be Saturday night in Manchester, England where King finds himself with his fighter, Marco Antonio Barrera, who will meet the young British sensation Amir Khan at the Manchester Evening News Arena.

Speaking from England on Wednesday, King was in a positively giddy mood.

“I’m oh so happy to be here in the U.K.,” bellowed King. “And I’ll tell you now, Marco Antonio Barrera is looking exquisite and although Amir Khan is a terrific young fighter we’re going to take him out. Frank Warren called me a couple of months ago and asked me if Barrera would want this fight and we didn’t hesitate for a second. Yes, yes and yes is what we said! Now we’re here and the time is counting down!”

Although many are already writing Barrera’s fistic obituary, King says they’ll have to stop the presses and do a re-write if they think one of Mexico’s greatest ever fighters is going to lose.

“Marco is going to do it, you know what I mean?” said King. “Marco is going to rise to the occasion. He is a great fighter and the most important thing that I see is that he’s got that flame in his eye and that fire in his belly again. He has the intensity to be resurrected from the dead. Many people think, and Frank Warren is one of them, who think that Marco is old and too long in the tooth.”


Many think Marco Antonio Barrera has been backed into a corner, but he and King see things differently.

King claims that the age discrepancy between Barrera, who is 35, and Khan who is 22, will only make the fight more interesting and Barrera’s victory that much more impressive.

“It’s going to be a war,” promises King. “It’s going to be something that everybody in the world can wonder and say ‘Wow!’ It is going to be a great, great extravaganza and it’s a fight that the boxing fans of the world can’t afford not to buy! But victory will be ours. Viva Mexico! This is a sensational event and Marco Antonio Barrera will knockout Amir Khan.”

The second thing King said would and could happen (as long as a satisfactory deal can be worked out) is about the story that ran on Wednesday regarding a possible “Polish Fight of the Century” between Tomasz Adamek and another of King’s fighters - Andrew Golota.

“That would be a blockbuster of epic proportions,” said King. “But first we’ve got to get Andrew Golota healthy and healed and then we can talk. He is injured right now and Andrew won’t be ready to fight again for a while. You call me back in a couple of months and we’ll have more news for you on that. But that is a fight, between those two Polish superpowers, that would be like two planets colliding! I don’t know what would be left of my wonderful country of Poland after the dust settled. Ha! Ha! Ha!”


King is open to making a fight between two of Poland's favorite sons, Tomasz Adamek (left) and Andrew Golota.

The exact nature of Golota’s injury could not be confirmed as of this writing. But in a fight against Ray Austin in China back in November, Golota was knocked down and he landed awkwardly. As a result, he could not continue and the fight was stopped in the first round. At the time it was thought that Golota damaged his shoulder.

However, sources have told this writer that the shoulder is not the problem now, but that Golota has bone fragments in his right hand that are causing him a great deal of pain. The shoulder has responded well to treatment and physical therapy. Golota is scheduled to undergo surgery within the next few weeks and by the end of May he should be ready to get back into training if all goes well.


March 2009

The Polish Fight of the Century

IBF cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek could face off against fellow Pole Andrew Golota in what would be a domestic superfight.

The original “Fight of the Century” between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali was 38 years ago this week, but the Polish Fight of the Century could take place later this year if one of the world’s richest men has his way.

The fight that many Polish boxing fans are thirsting for is a heavyweight showdown between IBF cruiserweight champ Tomasz Adamek and the country’s heavyweight bad boy - Andrew Golota. After his rousing win two weeks ago over Johnathon Banks, Adamek hinted that all things are possible and that an eventual rise to heavyweight for him was not out of the question.

Now, one of the richest men in the world, Poland’s Zygmunt Solorz, who owns (among other things) the Polish television network Polstat, is willing to step up to the plate in order to make an Adamek-Golota fight a reality.

On Tuesday, at a press conference in Warsaw, Adamek’s co-promoter indicated that a match between the two Poles is one that Solorz wants to bring to fruition. The business magnate obviously possesses the monetary resources to put the fight together and he is of the opinion that it’s a fight that all of Poland could be proud of.

Adamek’s trainer, Andrzej Gmitruk, called the potential match-up “The Polish Fight of the Century” but he also indicated that there would be no doubt that should the fight take place that Adamek would prove victorious over the 41 year-old Golota who has definitely seen better days.

Hot off a December win over Steve Cunningham to win the IBF cruiserweight title and then the electrifying knockout win against Banks in his first title defense, Adamek is suddenly a red hot commodity. Now a resident of Jersey City, New Jersey, Adamek has become a fan favorite while winning successive and very entertaining fights against Cunningham and Banks at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.


Golota is a mercurial, mountain of a man and he would have a significant size advantage over Adamek.

Solorz is pitching the match for September in Warsaw. He is of the opinion the fight would easily beat the record television audience that tuned in to see Golota take on former heavyweight champ Tim Witherspoon in 1998.

However, Adamek’s representatives said the leading candidate for his next fight is an interesting defense against former middleweight champion and one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world - Bernard Hopkins. It’s a fight that the 44 year-old Hopkins is actively campaigning for and there don’t seem to be any promotional or political barriers to making the fight happen.

Adamek’s people mentioned there are a host of possibilities for him if the Hopkins fight doesn’t happen. They said they had actually received a proposal on Tuesday from German promoter Wilfrid Sauerland for bouts against Yugoslavian-born boxers Marco Huck 24-1 (19) KO, currently ranked #4 by the IBF and Enad Licina, 16-1 (10)KO who occupies the #11 slot.

Then of course there is the tantalizing rematch with the man that Adamek took the cruiserweight title from, Philadelphia’s Steve Cunningham.

Whatever the case, Adamek is a proven ticket seller and he is extremely popular with Polish fight fans. His next move is eagerly anticipated and he could fight in Poland, New York, New Jersey or Chicago and be guaranteed to draw large and enthusiastic crowds.


March 2009

Friday Nights Fights at the Mohegan Sun

UNCASVILLE, CT - A crowd of 3,112 at the Mohegan Sun Casino witnessed a seven bout card Friday night that featured a little bit of everything.

In the main event, a fight that was somewhat tactical early on, but erupted in the end, was a 12-rounder for the USBA Welterweight title belt. It saw Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez, 145 ¾, 20-1 (11)KO, Atlantic City, NJ, meet reigning titlist Delvin Rodriguez, 147, 23-2-2 (14)KO, Danbury, CT.

Rodriguez was welcomed with a thunderous ovation as this is practically his hometown. Alvarez started quickly with his southpaw jabs and Rodriguez had a hard time adjusting. After six rounds Rodriguez had won only one round on my card - the fifth.

For the first half of the fight, Rodriguez moved directly into the path of Alvarez’ straight left hands which he fired at will, sometimes in succession. Despite Rodriguez’ reputation of being the bigger puncher of the two, it was Alvarez whose punches landed heavier and moved Rodriguez. Alvarez, 32, was the physically stronger of the two and he was the fighter that came forward most of the night.

However the tide began to turn after the mid-way point and Alvarez was stunned in the 8th with a few potent right hands from Rodriguez.

Word came through press row that Rodriguez suffered an injury to his right hand or wrist somewhere mid-way through the fight, probably in the 8th. In between the 9th and 10th the doctor was checking on Rodriguez’ condition. Rodriguez stopped throwing the right hand in the 8th and 9th but came back with it in the 10th.

Unbelievably, for a fighter with a damaged right hand, Rodriguez stormed back with a vengeance and decked Alvarez in the 11th with a straight right hand and this brought the crowd in the arena to its feet. The frenzied fans remained standing for the entire 12th round as both guys were hurt and staggering as they exchanged big shots in a desperate attempt to win. Almost simultaneously, both of the fighters’ right eyes began to close. They traded leather until after the final bell.


Delvin Rodriguez (left) and Shamone Alvarez battled for the USBA 147-pound title belt.

The judges’ decision were very close, but unanimous for Rodriguez at 115-112 from Glen Feldman, 114-113 from Joe Pasquale and 114-113 from Don Trella.

Alvarez was despondent with the loss but the general consensus in press row was that Rodriguez won the fight by virtue of the knockdown in the 11th.

I scored it 6-6 in rounds, but with the extra point for the knockdown I had it 114-113 for Rodriguez. I had Alvarez winning rounds 1,2,3,4,6,9 with Rodriguez obviously winning the remainder. Referee was Eddie Claudio.

It was a tough loss for Alvarez but a huge win for Rodriguez and a giant step forward for him in his efforts to get a shot at a world title. I visited his dressing room immediately afterwards and Rodriguez was totally spent. His right eye was nearly closed and an ice pack was taped to his right hand. Dr. Michael Schwartz was unable to say definitively whether the hand was broken. Rodriguez would be taken to a local hospital to be checked out.

In an entertaining welterweight six-rounder, Jay Krupp, 146 ¾, 12-1(5)KO, Catskill, NY, went hand-to-hand with Raymond Serrano, 146 ¼, 8-0 (5)KO, Philadelphia, PA. Krupp, trained by Kevin Rooney, was decked with a big left hook in the first round but rose quickly and got right back in the fight.

Both guys traded and landed leather throughout, but Serrano got the better of the exchanges. The game Krupp, who goes by the nickname “Smokin” was nailed clean time and again and nearly went down in flames on several occasions. Krupp is defensively challenged and that, more than anything is what cost him the decision. After six full rounds the scores were unanimous for Serrano at 58-55 and two of 60-53. Referee was Mike Ortega.


Demetrius Andrade is flanked by co-promoters Artie Pellulo (left) and Joe DeGuardia and tonight he moved to 3-0 with a knockout win.

In the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights televised opener, 2008 Olympian Demetrius Andrade, 152 ¼, 2-0(2)KO, Providence, RI met up with Tom Joseph, 152, 4-1-1 (0)KO, Youngstown, OH. Andrade came into the ring to Guns ‘n Roses “Welcome to the Jungle.”

Andrade was met with a rousing ovation from the crowd and he opened up immediately on Joseph and totally overwhelmed him. Andrade, a southpaw, speedster if there ever was one, threw everything but the kitchen sink at the hapless Ohioan who looked terrified and bewildered before the first bell even rang. Referee Dick Flaherty intervened to save Joseph from the incoming and called a halt to it at 1:53 of round one. The crowd was unhappy and wanted to see a more decisive ending. They chanted “Bullshit” and I can’t say as I disagree with them.

In a lightweight four-rounder, Edwin Rosado, 132, 1-4 (1)KO, from up the road in Worcester, Mass., squared off against Frank Trader, 131 ¾, 2-0 (0)KO, Philadelphia, PA. Trader has quick hands and deft foot movement and used that to totally outclass the much slower Rosado who always seemed a step behind. In the second round, the aggressive Trader landed an electric right that short-circuited Rosado and dropped him flat on his back. Rosado beat referee Dick Flaherty’s count, but was in absolutely no shape to continue and the end was called a 1:49.

In a cruiserweight clash scheduled for four rounds, southpaw Joshua “The Juice” Harris, 196 ¾, 2-2-1 (1)KO, Youngstown, OH faced David Williams, 200, 6-2-1 (2)KO, Philadelphia, PA. In virtually the first punch he threw, Harris landed a crunching right hook to the chin that crumpled Williams to the floor in a heap. Referee Mike Ortega began to count, but waived it off before reaching ten. Time was 21 seconds of the first round. Harris spoke afterwards and said that he has worked with Kelly Pavlik in the gym in the past.

In a jr. middleweight four-rounder Chris Aucoin, 153 ¼, 1-1-1 (0)KO, Ontario, Canada went against Tyrone ’My Time’ Miles, pro debut, 152 ¾, Camden, NJ. Veteran referee Dick Flaherty oversaw a crude, free swinging affair from the start. Seen working in Miles’ corner was “Mighty” Ivan Robinson. After four completed rounds the judges saw Miles getting the best of it by scores of 38-38, and two ballots of 39-37 for a majority decision win.

In the walkout bout, jr. welterweights Shakha Moore, 143 ¼, 10-13-3 (2)KO, Norwalk, CT met Simeon Dunwell, 141 ¼, 8-0 (2)KO, Lynn, Mass. It was a spirited four rounder that saw Dunwell as the decision winner.

Dr. Michael Schwartz presented the Media Award for Ringside Safety to ESPN2 Friday Night Fights blow-by-blow man Joe Tessitore who hails from right here in Connecticut.


March 2009

Robert Guerrero Knows the Way to San Jose

'The Ghost' makes his return to the Bay Area on Saturday night at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero was born, raised and still lives in Gilroy, California which is also known as the ‘Garlic Capital of the World.’ In Guerrero’s hometown, they even make garlic ice cream and the joke is that you can usually smell Gilroy before you can see it.

“I was born and raised right here in Gilroy,” says the 25 year-old Guerrero. “I grew up fighting here and everybody around here has seen me fight since I was an amateur growing up. They’ve seen me since the beginning right up until my last title defense and I still walk around town here like a normal guy.”

On Saturday night, Guerrero, a former two-time IBF featherweight titlist, will fight at the HP Pavilion in San Jose which is a quick 30 mile drive up US-101 from the only home he has ever known. Guerrero knows the drive well, but he doesn’t believe in the lyrics to the old song, ‘Do You Know the Way to San Jose’ which was made famous by Dionne Warwick.

‘Fame and fortune is a magnet,
It can pull you far away from home.’

“I’m excited to be fighting in San Jose,” says the soft spoken and always smiling Guerrero of the fight that is practically in his back yard. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Now it’s finally here and it’s going to be good. Not only for myself but all of the people who follow boxing down here. It’ll help to give boxing the spark it needs down here and to get that fire going in this area.”


Guerrero is already a two-time 126-pound titlist, and if things go his way on Saturday night the sky could be the limit.

After a nearly year long and onerous legal battle, Guerrero, who sports a record of 23-1-1 (16)KO, switched promoters last December from Goossen-Tutor to Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy and he sounds like a fighter that has gotten a new lease on life. The excitement in his voice is obvious when he speaks of the possibilities of fighting under the new banner and what it will mean to his future.

“It’s going to be great,” says Guerrero of the relatively new relationship. “They’ve quickly brought me a fight in San Jose and that’s exciting for me. They’re always doing big things for their fighters and they’re going to do big things for me, too. That’s what I needed and I think that 2009 is going to be a huge year for me.”

David Itskowitch, COO of Golden Boy claims there has been much interest in tomorrow night’s tripleheader card that will see Guerrero take on unknown and undefeated Daud Cino Yordan of Indonesia, James Kirkland against Joel Julio and Victor Ortiz versus Mike Arnaoutis.

“We’re really happy to be here in San Jose,” said Itskowitch. “We’re excited to come up here for the show. When word started to leak out about these fights, for the first time that I’ve been at Golden Boy, we started to get a lot of fan e-mails. People were asking if it was true, is it coming, is it happening? I think that’s a good indication of the fan support we’re going to get for the event. People seem to be genuinely excited and there’s an excitement about having a big HBO card here. It’s a homecoming fight for Robert and it gives his fans a chance to see him.”


Guerrero made short work of Edel Ruiz and took him out in the first round with a bodyshot that caused the veteran to crumple.

For Guerrero, it’s a comeback of sorts as he sat out for nearly a year while his promotional issues worked their way toward a resolution. He returned in January (as a junior lightweight) on the Shane Mosley - Antonio Margarito undercard with a first round knockout win over Edel Ruiz in a fight that lasted only 43 seconds at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

He is also coming back from a personal battle as his wife, Casey, was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2007. They received the news only a week before his title defense against Martin Honorio. Guerrero still went through with the fight and he stopped Honorio in the first round, but after that the young fighter spent most of his time supporting his wife and two young children while dealing with a dilemma that is way more serious than any opponent he will ever face in a boxing ring. After a round of chemotherapy his wife is now in the clear and with his promotional situation resolved Guerrero feels like he can focus of all his efforts on becoming the best that he can be in the ring.

“Thankfully, everything is going great with her now, everything is good,” says a relieved Guerrero, who still swallows hard when he talks about it.

“She’s in remission right now and thank God that has gotten taken care of. You know, that was the hardest fight that I’d ever been in, but just being by her side was very important. I’m so thankful that she is now O.K. and hopefully that’s behind us. Now I’m with Golden Boy and they’re looking out for me so all of the pieces have finally fallen into place. I’ve worked very hard to get where I’m at - and now it’s coming home.”


Guerrero (right) is not afraid to go engage in hand-to-hand combat and the struggle of this fight is evident on the faces of both fighters.

Guerrero is a third generation fighter. His grandfather, also named Robert and whom he is named after was a boxer as was his father Ruben who has served as his trainer since he first laced on a pair of gloves at the age of nine years old. Guerrero first began training at the Gilroy Community Youth Center Gym and it’s still where he does some of his training when he’s not up in the mountains of Big Bear, California trading leather with the likes of ’Sugar’ Shane Mosley and other top ranked, world-class fighters.

Guerrero was nicknamed ‘The Ghost’ early on and he explains how he got the interesting moniker and one that he also shares with world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik.

“It comes from being the fast in the ring. I hit guys and then I’m gone,” he proudly says. “I’m over here and then I’m over there. They don’t know where the punches are coming from and a lot of guys were like, ‘Hey, he’s like a ghost.’ They could feel the shots, but they couldn’t see them coming, so that’s how I got the name.”

For the first time in a while, Guerrero seems as though he finally able to put the rest of the world on hold while he continues to pursue his dreams.

In regards to his immediate future, Guerrero says only this: “I feel I’m on the verge of becoming a superstar in the sport. I want to go to the next level and win championships in multiple weight classes.”

And one other thing - he knows the way to San Jose.


March 2009

The Hiligaynon People

The Hectic Capiznon Bloggers 2009 salute the Hiligaynon People. These are the indigenous inhabitants of the large coastal plain of East Panay island. Over the years, intermigrations and intramigrations have contributed to the diaspora of the Hiligaynon to different parts of the country. Now, the Hiligaynon people form the majority in Iloilo province, Capiz province, Negros Occidental province, Guimaras province, and Sultan Kudarat province. They are part of the wider Visayan ethnic group, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnic group. They speak Hiligaynon language. Throughout the Philippines, they speak Tagalog and English as second languages. Most Hiligaynons are Christians belonging to Roman Catholicism. The Hectic Capiznon Bloggers 2009 are proud of their native people…The Hiligaynon People.

The Hiligaynon People

The Hectic Capiznon Bloggers 2009 salute the Hiligaynon People. These are the indigenous inhabitants of the large coastal plain of East Panay island. Over the years, intermigrations and intramigrations have contributed to the diaspora of the Hiligaynon to different parts of the country. Now, the Hiligaynon people form the majority in Iloilo province, Capiz province, Negros Occidental province, Guimaras province, and Sultan Kudarat province. They are part of the wider Visayan ethnic group, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnic group. They speak Hiligaynon language. Throughout the Philippines, they speak Tagalog and English as second languages. Most Hiligaynons are Christians belonging to Roman Catholicism. The Hectic Capiznon Bloggers 2009 are proud of their native people…The Hiligaynon People.

The 'Old' Ricky Hatton Makes a Return

If there was a fighter made for 140 pounds - it could be 'The Hitman' who can work himself into razor sharp shape.

I’ve spoken with Ricky Hatton numerous times over the years - and earlier this week I noticed a difference in his voice. There was an eagerness to it -an excitement if you will - and he sounded hungry and ready to go head-to-head against Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd.

I don’t know if the Ricky Hatton we all came to know ever went away - but if a part of him did - it just sounded to me that the old Ricky Hatton is back. When I talked to him before he fought Floyd Mayweather, Jr. he was a bit grouchy and testy. But the Hatton of 2009 is talkative and eager and I noticed a distinct difference in him.

Hatton says he is as fast right now in his training as he was on the night that he faced Paulie Malignaggi back in November and Hatton is sounding the notion that he may at the top of his game and in his prime.

“You know, nobody thought that I was going to take the title from Kostya Tszyu,” said Hatton of his title winning performance back in 2005. “A lot of people said that was a mismatch and nobody gave me a chance there, but I toppled him. He was a murderous puncher and he was one of the best in the world and in the end I made him quit. I’m telling you, I do believe that I am better today than the night I beat Tszyu. The reason I say that is because not only do I still have the same old aggressive, come ahead style - but now in working with Mayweather, Sr. I have a left jab, I have boxing ability, handspeed and combination punching - so Manny Pacquiao has to keep all of that in mind.”

Hatton also claims that when he walks into the MGM Grand Garden and steps through the ropes and into the ring that Manny Pacquiao will be going up against the heaviest fighter he has ever faced. Hatton said that by the time the bell rings he will likely weigh “11 stone - or 154 pounds.”


Hatton may have been at his best when he steamrolled the great Kostya Tszyu in Manchester, England in June 2005.

“When I have stood beside Manny I do feel bigger than him,” continued Hatton. “It’s not just about my size and me being bigger than he is or me trying to bulldoze him over. I realize that I can’t run straight in on him and go in without watching at what’s coming back at me. But now I’ve got the technical ability to back up my size advantage. I’m unbeaten at 10 stone (140 pounds) and that, I truly, truly feel is my weight division.”

Before he fought Mayweather, Jr. I sensed a certain caution in Hatton’s voice and mannerisms as though he was not one hundred percent sure of himself. But in speaking with him, albeit by telephone, I sense no trepidation on his part.

“I know there is danger there against Manny Pacquiao, but I’m up to the brim and overflowing with confidence right now,” Hatton said. “I’m massive at junior welterweight, this is my division and that’s what I’m going to go and show.”


March 2009