Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Chad Dawson-Glen Johnson II Soon - Who Wins?

by James Slater, photo by Wray Edwards / ESB - As eagerly awaited as any rematch at light-heavyweight in the past few years, young talent Chad Dawson and tough old warrior Glen Johnson will be getting it on again before the year is out. According to ESPN.com, the fight, already signed, will likely take place on November 7th, at a venue still to be decided. As fans who saw the original fight between the two 175-pounders know, the styles of the two men gelled well and some great action came as a result. However, the debate still goes on in some quarters as to who really won back in April of 2008. "Bad" Chad was awarded a unanimous decision in Miami, Florida - with all three judges seeing him the victor by identical scores of 116-112 - but "The Road Warrior" cried robbery and some fans agreed with him.

Now, having given up the IBF title he subsequently won by beating Antonio Tarver after having given up his WBC strap, 26-year-old Dawson faces the teak-tough 40-year-old in a lucrative rematch. Who will win?

Though he was deemed lucky by some to have kept his WBC crown back in April of last year, southpaw Dawson must be made at least a slight favourite to win in November. This is not to come close to suggesting we should write off Johnson, it's simply an opinion. Faster than Glen, so much younger and still to reach his very peak, Chad won't shock too many people if he repeats his points win over the veteran. But will that be enough?

Another close, debatable points win will not win Dawson any new fans. Yet at the same time, if the fighter who is a slick boxer by heart goes out and switches tactics in a drastic attempt to become only the second man to ever stop the 49-12-2(33) former IBF champion (the great Bernard Hopkins being the sole KO winner over Glen at present, stopping him in the 11th-round way back in 1997 down at middleweight), Dawson could be in trouble.

Hit hard and often by Johnson last spring - somewhat shockingly so at times for such a gifted operator - Dawson finished the fight showing his share of marks of battle. Would the 28-0(17) class act be better served boxing a more crafty, hit-and-not-be-hit type of fight this time around? Or will Dawson indeed go for the statement-making stoppage win?

We all know how Johnson, as honest a pro as you could wish to find, will fight in November. Nothing flashy, nothing fancy, just hard work and a resolute effort is what we always get when the 40-year-old fights. Relying on amazing conditioning (especially amazing considering his age and number of tough, gruelling fights), a sturdy chin and old-school skills, "Gentleman" Glen goes to work in his usual grim-faced way. It's fair to say, the only time Johnson has shocked us to the core was when he flattened Roy Jones Junior in the 9th-round back in 2004. Not known as a monster puncher, Johnson sure let loose with some hard-looking shots that night.

A stoppage of Dawson would be something else entirely though (Jones was coming off a 2nd-round KO at the hands of Tarver, after all). What we can expect in November is another highly engrossing fight, and once again a distance fight looks a good bet from here. Unless Dawson gets reckless as he tries to win over new fans with a KO win (in what would be his first in over two years), or unless Johnson suddenly begins to show his age (a possibility), a fight very much similar to their first is what these two excellent light-heavies will give the fans in 2009's penultimate month.

The decision might well leave Johnson and his supporters feeling as aggrieved as the first result did, but after another good fight Dawson will win on points.

 

[naner12]

Eddie Chambers is in shape!! Gonna fuck some shit up tomorrow!

 

[2-0-Sixx]

^^208 pounds I read, that's very good for him.



Abraham, Froch, Taylor, Kessler in a Showtime Shocker

By Rick Reeno

A few weeks back, I reported that Showtime was very interested in putting together a super middleweight tournament with the biggest names at the weight. Over the last few days, BoxingScene.com has spoken with numbers high-level sources who are close to the situation and it appears that Showtime is going to move forward with the super middleweight tournament.

The negotiations for this tournament have been very secretive and some of the information I was able to dig up will make Ken Hershman [Senior Vice President and General Manager, Sports & Event Programming at Showtime] wonder if I tapped his phone line.

From what I was able to find out, Showtime plans to enter into multi-fight agreements with undefeated IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham, WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler, former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, undefeated contender Andre Ward, undefeated contender Andre Dirrell and undefeated WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch.

This will NOT be an elimination style tournament.

Once all of the contracts have been signed and every fighter is officially on board, Showtime plans to match them in a round robin tournament with some form of a point system.

If everything goes as expected, the following fights are being discussed for this tournament.

Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor in October in Germany
Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell in October in the UK.
Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward in November.
Arthur Abraham vs. Andre Dirrell in America in January 2010
Mikkel Kessler vs. Carl Froch in Europe in March 2010
Andre Ward vs. Jermain Taylor in America in April/May 2010
Andre Dirrell vs. Andre Ward in America in September 2010
Arthur Abraham vs. Carl Froch in November 2010, with Mikkel Kessler vs. Jermain Taylor taking place around the same time.

After those bouts takes place and the points are tallied up, there will be semi-finals and a final tournament bout.

As far as Kessler’s legal dispute with Mogens Palle, I’ve heard that some form of an agreement was reached with Palle to allow Kessler to participate. I’ve been told that Palle will not be part of the promotion, but if everything comes together as expected - Dan Goossen, Gary Shaw, Lou DiBella, Sauerland Event and Mick Hennessey will be involved.

Some other points of interest.

1. Abraham would vacate his title and move up to 168.
2. Kelly Pavlik would be left without any significant opponents at 160 or 168. The only options I would see for him is the winner of Lucian Bute vs. Librado Andrade or Paul Williams.
3. You would have to applaud the promoters involved if everything is able to get worked out. The tournament would be a global event with some of the biggest names in America, Germany, UK and Denmark.

 

[heyzel]

that sounds dope but I want it to be a elimination style tournament that would be better tho

 

[heyzel]

Vitali Klitschko-David Haye To Proceed on September 12?

By Mark Vester & Thomas Schlabe

According to the popular German tabloid BILD, HBO is confirming that a fight between WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and challenger David Haye will take place on September 12 in Germany. The story in BILD is also reporting that stadiums in Gelsenkirchen, Duesseldorf and Frankfurt (all ranging between 50,000 up to 63,000 seats) are being considered.

Haye was scheduled to fight Wladimir Klitschko on June. He withdrew with a back injury. Wladimir has to make a IBF mandatory defense against Alexander Povetkin and that will likely take place by September. Vitali won a legal battle with WBC, which freed him from the obligation of fighting mandatory Oleg Maskaev, and opened up the door for a fight with Haye.

 

[MOREBASS]

Damn, 168 is crackin !

 

[trips]

please let this happen

 

[naner12]

Chambers is stinging Dimitrenko!!

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Chambers!!!

 

[naner12]

Chambers!!!

The judge that had 113-113 is ridiculous. Chambers would've had to beat him to death to win on that card. Still a really good win for Chambers who remains underrated by almost everyone. Wins over Calvin Brock, Sam Peter & now Alexander Dimitrenko are better wins than almost anyone waiting for a title shot. Chambers would piece up every other American HW and he still gets no love.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

agree. He earned his shot at Klitschko. Should be good hopefully around the same time Vitali fights David Haye.

 

[naner12]

agree. He earned his shot at Klitschko. Should be good hopefully around the same time Vitali fights David Haye.

I don't get why Vitali just doesn't fight Maskaev and get him out of the way. I don't see Maskaev having anything for him and it would free him up for a big money fight with Haye or someone else.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

I think vitali just won that ruling last month which allows him to fight whoever he wants. So maskaev can wait if he wants a big money fight now.

 

[heyzel]

Margarito Says The Weight Will Hurt Cotto With Pacquiao

By Mark Vester

Former three time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito told The Record that he believes the agreed upon catch-weight of 145-pounds will be an issue for WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto when he steps in the ring with Manny Pacquiao on November 14 in Las Vegas.

"I think that Cotto is giving away too many advantages to Pacquiao if the fight is done at 145 pounds and even more if fight were to happen at 143 like Pacquiao wants. From the very first round, that advantage would be for Pacquiao because [Cotto] would be dehydrated like Oscar De La Hoya [when he fought Pacquiao last December]," Margarito said.

Margarito is back in camp, training and staying in shape to keep his body ready for a quick ring return. He lost his license in February when the California State Athletic Commission found him liable for an illegal substance found in his hand wraps prior to the January 24 bout with Shane Mosley. Margarito's lawyers are fighting the decision by the CSAC and he hopes to get back in the ring before 2010.

"I am training for anything that comes up, any opportunity. [My lawyers] told me that they are going to speak me during the following week to give me a new report. I don't know anything right now but I have faith that everything can be solved quick," Margarito said

 

[heyzel]

Paul Williams is Still Aiming To Land Sergei Dzinziruk

By Rick Reeno

During a recent conversation with promoter Dan Goossen, BoxingScene.com was advised that WBO junior middleweight champion Sergei Dzinziruk (36-0, 22KOs) is still the target of Paul "The Punisher" Williams (37-1, 27KOs). After a big April win over Winky Wright at middleweight, Williams is planning to drop down to 154 for a meeting with Dzinziruk.

HBO is not entirely against a fight with Dzinziruk, but the network would much rather have Williams take a fight with former champion Joshua Clottey. Clottey recently told BoxingScene that he wants to fight Williams next. Williams and Goossen are not interested in the fight, at least for the moment, and they do have valid reasons.

"I think a fight with Clottey is a step backwards. Why take the guy who lost the last fight [against Miguel Cotto]? If the winner [Cotto] wants to fight Paul, then we could do that. I think Joshua needs to come back and get a couple of wins before a fight with Paul can be discussed," Goossen said.

"Dzinziruk is an undefeated champion. He is a tough fighter and a good boxer and I think that fight can be made. We tried to get other big fights. We tried to get Shane Mosley. He wasn't interested. I don't think what he's doing by chasing Manny Pacquiao around is smart. That [fight] won't happen. If he can't get Pacquiao then the next biggest fight would be against Paul Williams

 

[heyzel]

David Haye Ready To Resume Full Camp For Sept. Return

Terence Dooley

David Haye is due to resume full training ahead of a planned September bout, and the Londoner is adamant that there will be a Klitschko in the other corner when he does make his ring return.

Haye pulled out a proposed fight with Wlad Klitschko due to a back injury, he today told the Daily Mail that the injury is behind him, and that he is gunning for Vitali Klitschko. “The back is fine and I've had a few sessions on it,” he said. “I'm looking to step up training next week and I can't wait for the fight to be announced and the deal to be sorted out.

“If I fight a Klitschko the fight will probably be in Germany so it's all about me going over there and doing the business. As long as it's one of them, I don't mind because they are the best heavyweights in the world, along with myself.”

Haye is 2-0 as a heavyweight; he is largely untested in the division. However, the Klitschkos have taken umbrage to Haye's brash approach; WBC boss Vitali may now be prepared to step in with the cocky Cockney. Wlad has mandatory commitments, Vitali, though, could squeeze in a voluntary defence; Haye would fit the bill perfectly

 

[heyzel]

D Mitchell Gets Sweet Revenge On Martin Concepcion

By Tom Podmore

When dangerous East Midlands puncher Martin Concepcion fought Birmingham’s ‘Sweet’ D Mitchell last year, at the impressive surroundings of the National Indoor Arena (NIA), the Leicester man emerged from a heart-stopping four-rounder with his hand raised, his career intact, and his 13th professional victory in the bag.

Fast-forward 13 months and the pair met in Birmingham again, although at a different venue – Edgbaston’s Tower Ballroom – and over four rounds again. The only thing different about this 12-minute bout was that local stylist Mitchell had his glove lofted skywards at the end.

Swadlincote’s Rob Chalmers awarded the stocky Erdington-based light-middleweight a 39-37 decision, a verdict which infuriated Concepcion, and it was met with loud roars of disapproval from his large band of supporters, including brother Kevin, who’d made the trip from Leicester. For what it’s worth, I had Mitchell winning by the same two-point margin (giving him the first three stanzas).

And, like their unforgettable first fight in June of last year, on the undercard of Amir Khan’s successful defence of his Commonwealth lightweight title against Michael Gomez, they served up four rounds of pulsating action that saw Concepcion’s heavier-hitting pitted against Mitchell’s sharper boxing and better movement.

As well as the give-and-take action, their first fight saw the former Commonwealth 11st title challenger rattle Mitchell in the opening two rounds before finding himself starting up at the lights in the final three minutes, albeit from a shot that looked to have caught him off balance. He got up, won by a 39-38 margin, but had been inactive since.

There was talk of another crack at the Commonwealth crown if Martin managed to repeat his win over the 32-year-old Brummie. Concepcion swatted aside the current Commonwealth light-middleweight boss, Manchester’s Matthew Hall, inside a round in 2007 and Hall recently spoke of his need to avenge that defeat.

His conqueror’s loss to Mitchell, who didn’t take up boxing until he was in his mid-twenties, will have put Hall’s rematch ambitions firmly to bed. But the Richie Woodhall-trained fighter’s ninth win in 13 pro outings (two via stoppage) could see Mitchell land a shot at a title of some description.

Other than the loss to Concepcion, now 13-6, his blemishes had come on injury to Gatis Skuja (avenged), a close six-rounder to Prince Arron (a fighter Mitchell was controlling until he faded in the last two rounds) and the tall, long-armed Jack Arnfield (whose height and reach caused problems).

Mitchell’s tactics in the rematch with the Leicester banger were bang on. He never gave Concepcion (11st 2lbs 7oz) any room to land with the type of punches that had left nine men with stoppage defeats on their ledgers, kept a high guard, used good head movement, and landed a steady stream of solid leads and countering hooks.

Concepcion, 27, threw plenty of leather but most of it landed on the gloves and forearms of his pumped-up opponent. If boxing was scored on the amount of punches thrown during a fight, he would have probably chalked win 14 on his resume. However, Mitchell, who holds a win over reigning Midland Area middleweight boss Tony Randell, may have thrown less but he landed with more.

The second and third rounds of the contest saw Mitchell (11st 3lbs 3oz) at his best. Rolling under his harder-hitting opponent’s punches, D parried the punches coming his way and cracked home hard counters that had Concepcion, trained by Jezz Brogan, backing off towards the ropes. Martin had a better final three minutes but it was too little too late.

A rubber match would be more than welcome.

The main event on the Warrior Promotions (Jon Pegg) and First Team (PJ Rowson and Errol Johnson)-promoted Sunday afternoon (July 5) card in the Second City saw undefeated super-middleweight Eddie McIntosh, from nearby Bartley Green, sweep all six rounds against tall, lean Newark southpaw Jamie Norkett.

Popular McIntosh, 26 and who has yet to drop a single round in 34 scheduled sessions, destroyed Lee Nicholson inside two rounds in his first six-threes in April but never really looked as if he would put away defensive-minded Norkett, three inches taller, before the final bell rang.

Now unbeaten in nine (two quick wins), the Richie Woodhall-trained ‘Braveheart’ has been told that a crack at a belt, likely to be the Midland Area 12st strap held by Stourbridge crowd-pleaser Sam Horton, is in the offing before the end of the year. There is also an outside chance that the Scottish and Irish-rooted boxer could get a shot at the Celtic title.

Whatever the belt on the line, McIntosh looks ready.

The bull-strong Brummie dominated durable Norkett (12st 3lbs 2oz) throughout with an assortment of accurate and fast-handed blows to both head and body. The Carl Greaves-handled East Midlander, now 3-10 (1), was content to spend 18 minutes on the back foot, never presenting McIntosh (12st 2lb 3oz) with a stationary target for more than a few seconds.

Eddie significantly stepped up the pace in the final six minutes and his hard hooks left the 32-year-old with blood leaking from his nose and hanging on for survival as the entertaining bout reached its conclusion

 

[heyzel]

Marquez Will Beat Mayweather's Weight, Says Nacho

By Mark Vester

Nacho Beristain, trainer/manager of Juan Manuel Marquez, says the weight for the September 19 bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. will present them with some problems but they are taking the proper steps to overcome those problems. The fight will take place at a catch-weight of 144, although there are conflicting reports of the fight being bumped to 147. Marquez is moving up from lightweight by nearly two weight divisions.

Nacho told BoxingScene.com's Jose Aguirre that he plans to make Marquez into a much stronger fighter. He does admit that Marquez will be a few steps slower and that might be an even bigger problem when you consider the speed of Mayweather.

"Without a doubt, the weight is a disadvantage. We have to work hard at it. Juan Manuel will be strong. He have time to make him a strong guy to put everything that we need to put into him. Maybe he will be a little slower than before but certainly he will have the skills," Nacho said.

He says the fight is very tough. The team is confident of victory. Nacho expects a very exciting techincal battle when they step in the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"It's a real tough fight. Very difficult. The best pound for pound fighter in the world. Great skills. One of those guys who is hard to figure [out]," Nacho said. "To me it is very exciting to see two very skilled fighters go at it but we figure that we have enough to beat him. It was going to be a tough fight because both of them have great, great skills."

 

[heyzel]

Victor Ortiz: Before We Write Him Off As A Quitter

By Jake Donovan

So after one knockout loss, we’re ready to dismiss Victor Ortiz as a never-will-be. Perhaps the preliminary analysis proves correct in the long term. The southpaw offered nothing in the way of a protest in the fateful sixth round of his slugfest with Marcos Maidana this past weekend.

He even owned up to a quit job in his post-fight interview, much to the chagrin of his fans and Golden Boy Promotions. The heads of the L.A.-based promotional powerhouse were none too pleased with the way Ortiz opted to bow out after working so hard to keep together a card designed as a makeshift homecoming for the junior welterweight tabbed by HBO and oh so many in the media as boxing’s next star.

Perhaps it’s the latter part that has ruffled the feathers of boxing scribes in print and online, that they were left to feel embarrassed after all of the flattering ink dedicated towards the kid. Most post-fight reports seemed to focus less on Maidana’s incredible come-from-behind knockout, instead reading more like “Ortiz flat out quit against what’s his name.”

In the red-light district that is our sport, arrogance and bravery are far more celebrated than humility and honestly. More so than his performance, fans and writers seemed more put off by Ortiz’ post-fight interview, particularly his send-off in which he insisted he was too pretty to take beatings like the one he endured Saturday, and that he had to think long and hard before making his next step.

Most circles would find his responses refreshingly honest, even if somewhat puzzling for someone who punches for pay, and who gained his comeuppance on the strength of a violent knockout streak that turned enough heads to earn him repeated showcases on HBO and their pay-per-view arm.

Those same words are taken as a sign of weakness in boxing. Even though the fight game continues to evolve, and where skill conquers will more often than not, we still expect our favorites to perform in barbaric fashion.

Tacitus be damned; there is no living to fight another day. You win or die trying. Even if there is no more fight left in your beat-up body, you allow others to do the dirty work. Your trainer makes a scene and insists he can’t let you go on. You have your corner call over the ringside physician, and convince him to stop a fight because the cuts and bruises can’t be controlled.

What you never do, is voluntary quit on your own.

That’s the lesson Victor Ortiz was forced to learn this weekend, more so than the confirmation that he’s a sucker for right hands, or that his chin isn’t exactly stellar.

However, he’s also one of the few who can actually claim to have learned something. His harshest critics aren’t as fortunate, once again ignoring even recent boxing history.

Former two-time junior lightweight champion Genaro Hernandez shared along with boxing writer George Kimball this year’s Bill Crawford Award, issued by the Boxing Writers Association of America to those who exude courage in overcome adversity. Both Hernandez and Kimball were honored for the way they handled separate bouts with cancer, labeled as heroes by those in the media.

Yet once upon a time, Hernandez was forced to wear a different label; that of a quitter who committed career suicide in the most high-profile fight of his career.

The night was September 9, 1995. Oscar de la Hoya was three years removed from his gold medal winning run in the 1992 Olympics and emerging as one of the sport’s brightest stars. His career was moved at a brisk pace, to where his handlers believed he was ready for a veteran champion like Hernandez after just 18 fights as a pro.

Hernandez, who was moving up in weight after a lengthy reign as a 130 lb. titlist, held his own for six rounds, but would suddenly – and inexplicably, according to most knee-jerk observers – quit without so much as returning to his corner. There were rumors of his getting busted up in sparring, to which he cited in further aggravating an already busted nose over the course of his pay-per-view headliner against de la Hoya.

Few were interested in hearing about any excuses he had to offer; the point, in their eyes, was that he accepted the assignment and the hefty payday which came along with it, therefore obligated to fight to the finish. His failure to do so earned him boxing’s scarlet letter – Q, as in quitter.

All of that suddenly went out the window, just 18 months and three fights later. That was when he challenged then-130 lb. champion, the legendary Azumah Nelson. Questions of Hernandez’ heart arose well before the opening bell, to which Chicanito responded that he would do everything in his power to win.

He did just that, building up a huge lead before enduring a punch to the Adam’s apple after the bell to end the seventh round. Hernandez was first given the opportunity to tap out and win the fight on a foul, given the double whammy – an illegal punch landed after the clock read triple zeroes. Hernandez said, “No way.” He was then given five minutes to recover, and proceeded to take a well-earned split decision for his second reign as champion.

It’s nights like that as well as his four-year reign as champ the first time around that many chose to remember when news broke of his being diagnosed with cancer last year.

Few today will remember Bernard Hopkins as anything other than an ageless wonder and the owner of the most middleweight title defenses in boxing history. But there was a time when one of the very best fighters in the sport’s history was once accused of being a quitter.

Eight defenses into what would become a historic middleweight title reign, Hopkins faced mandatory challenger Robert Allen for the first of three times. The third fight was absolutely pointless before, during and after the familiar foes once again met in the ring in 2004. But the only reason there was demand for a second fight was due to what went down in their first fight – specifically, Hopkins going down and out of the ring and unable to continue.

The sequence came towards the end of a fourth round that resembled the prior three – lots of grappling and fouling, and very little actual fighting. Referee Mills Lane moved in to break apart one of the many clinches during the bout when he inadvertently shoved Hopkins through the ropes and out of the ring.

Post-fight X-rays would show strained ligaments in Hopkins’ ankle, medically justifying his decision to not continue. However, at the time, there were those who were disappointed in his unwillingness to fight on. None more so than Allen, who flat out accused the Philly boxer of pulling a quit job.

Allen would be forced to eat his words in their rematch six months later, himself looking for a way out throughout their one-sided contest heavily in Hopkins’ favor. Several times in the bout, Allen would flop on the canvas writhing in pain after getting hit with low blows or even punches close to the beltline. He was given no such option, and Hopkins was more than willing to lay a beating on his overmatched rival before stopping him in seven rounds.

The fight was all of the evidence you needed to know how ridiculous it was to ever accuse Hopkins of ever willingly bowing out of a prize fight. If not, his bravery was confirmed in his rematch with Antwun Echols, overcoming a dislocated shoulder midway through the bout to stop his familiar foe in ten rounds.

But what happens in the future only helps dismiss claims made in the past, but not erasing the occurrence altogether.

Just ask Vitali Klitschko, who twice in his career was forced to endure such labels like “quitter,” “coward,” and “chicken.”

Nine rounds into his alphabet title defense against Chris Byrd in 2000, Klitschko would suffer what was later diagnosed as a torn rotator cuff. He was far enough ahead on the scorecards to where he could’ve screwed the pooch for the final three rounds and still win a unanimous decision at the end of the night.

Instead, he decided it was best – or at least safest – to retire on his stool, and allow the wound to properly heal so that he could properly resume his career.

He made the decision even under the knowledge that the title he carried into the ring would be awarded to his opponent, but still stuck to his guns.

Gone were any thoughts of his being the future of the division, and nobody let him forget about that night even three years later, when he agreed to an eleventh-hour assignment against lineal heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

Prior to the fight, Klitschko promised that he would do whatever it took to win the heavyweight title, his response to repeated inquiries of how he would handle a situation similar to what he endured three years ago, or even adversity of any kind.

He proved his mettle six rounds later. The elder Klitschko was praised for his newfound bravery, leading on the scorecards only to be forced to exit due to a severely lacerated eye. Neither the injury nor the blood was of any concern to Vitali, who went genuinely ballistic when told his night would end.

From zero to hero, even in defeat. Not only did he manage to ditch the quitter label, but was looked upon as the heir to the heavyweight throne once Lewis suddenly went idle before calling it a career altogether early in 2004.

Klitschko would further the cause with a crushing eighth round knockout of Corrie Sanders, avenging a previous knockout loss of younger brother Wladimir a year prior. Eight months later came another dominant performance, knocking out Danny Williams to end the year.

At the time, it also seemed to mark the very last fight of his boxing career.

Repeated attempts to schedule a mandatory defense against Hasim Rahman in 2005 were interrupted by an assortment of injuries, before Klitschko decided late in the year to relinquish his title and bow out of the sport if he couldn’t fight at 100%. The decision came after months of ridicule in the media as well as from the offices of Don King, who promoted Rahman at the time and was none too happy with being denied the chance to vie for the heavyweight title.

The negative press continued in 2007, when Klitschko announced his desire to come back, opting to enforce his ridiculous Champion Emeritus status from one sanctioning body, which meant he was immediately eligible for a title shot. Courtrooms and fresh injuries would delay his comeback for more than a year, long enough to where few believed he could ever again become a factor even if he was able to eventually hobble into the ring.

Fast forward to 2009, where Vitali is now two fights into his comeback, and believed by many to be the very best heavyweight on the planet. The only thing standing in his way is baby brother Wladimir, whom he will obviously never face. That doesn’t prevent fans from debating which of the two is the better heavyweight, with accusations of older brother being a quitter suddenly no longer a part of the conversation.

How laughable is it that boxing fans and writers alike ridiculed WBC president Jose Sulaiman for having the gall to strip Israel Vazquez of his super bantamweight title after going idle long enough to not honor his mandatory challenges.

Three wars with Rafael Marquez – the second and third of which were universally honored as Fight of the Year in 2007 and 2008, respectively – were more than enough reason for Vazquez to take as much rest as he needed, it was argued.

What nearly everyone forgets, however, is the fact that it was Vazquez’ performance in their August 2007 rematch that helped RESTORE his credibility, which many suggested was compromised after the way their first fight ended five months prior.

Vazquez entered their March 2007 meeting as the lineal super bantamweight king, with Marquez moving up in weight after a lengthy bantamweight title reign. It was the challenger who sprinted out to an early lead through two rounds, and well on his way to taking the third before suffering an untimely knockdown before rounds end.

One punch and Vazquez was very much right back in the fight, although things would take a turn for the worse after suffering a broken nose two rounds later.

Vazquez pondered conceding defeat at that point, only to fight on at the urging of then-head trainer Freddie Roach. He would brave the next two rounds, fighting well enough to pull even on one scorecard and within two points in the eyes of the other two judges. The cards soon became a moot point, as Vazquez preferred the option to breathe over killing himself (figuratively speaking) to defend his title.

His decision was vilified by blood-thirsty fans, declaring a Fight of the Year contender an anti-climactic affair and strangely questioning whether or not there was any hope of turning around his career. Even Freddie Roach, lauded by many as the top trainer in the game today, decided to jump ship, insisting Vazquez no longer had it and needed to immediately retire.

Roach was just one of many people made to look like a jackass once the rematch rolled around. Vazquez delivered the performance of his career, delivering a sixth round knockout in the year’s best fight, before once again showing the heart of a gladiator in their rubber match seven months later, scoring a dramatic last-second knockout to eke out a split decision win in one of the best fights in recent history.

Vazquez and Hernandez were two of the honorees at this year’s Boxing Writers Association of America awards. Hopkins and elder Klitschko weren’t among the awards recipients, but both still enjoy lofty rankings in their respective weight classes. All were labeled quitters at separate points in their careers, only to make their critics devour their proverbial crow.

The accolades heaped upon Victor Ortiz prior to Saturday had the adopted Californian well on his way to joining the upper echelon of the sport. One loss later, those same media members are in search of the world’s biggest eraser, trying to pretend that greatness was never bestowed on him.

While the odds appear at the moment to be against a guy like Ortiz, the one thing history suggests that the only thing more premature than having anointed him as “that guy,” is suddenly writing him off altogether.

 

[ArGenTin3]

^good read.

I also find it funny that people jump off the bandwagon in boxing so easily when a fighter they like gets labeled as a "quitter".

Ortiz is no quitter, his post fight interview was just taken the wrong way and people ran with it.