- Sep 28, 2003
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Especially since he's been seen with Angel Heredia lately...
Official 2013 Boxing Thread: Year is over, please lock.
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by proshares,
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Especially since he's been seen with Angel Heredia lately...
- Sep 28, 2003
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Happy for Ishe Smith, but I would've enjoyed watching paint dry more than this fight.
- Oct 16, 2012
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I'm glad Ishe got the W.
But I agree with you Destroyer about the Heavyweight division. 1 punch can end a fight, and like you, I think Jennings handles Mitchell without many problems. He's a lot more sound in the technical department.
But I agree with you Destroyer about the Heavyweight division. 1 punch can end a fight, and like you, I think Jennings handles Mitchell without many problems. He's a lot more sound in the technical department.
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- Feb 1, 2012
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But Deontay doesn't even challenge himself though. He just keeps on fighting bum after bum.
When he beats someone of note, let me know.
When he beats someone of note, let me know.
- Nov 4, 2003
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The second half of the fight wasn't bad at all, had its moments. I enjoyed the first fight more obviously
- Jul 22, 2012
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Who here has faith judah winnning? Really?
I'm surprise he got the fight with Garcia, especially after the kahn fight. This fight seems a tune up for Idk for garcias.
To me Peterson and kahn looks like a sure thing, especially that uncle Bob doesn't want to deal with GBP.
I'm surprise he got the fight with Garcia, especially after the kahn fight. This fight seems a tune up for Idk for garcias.
To me Peterson and kahn looks like a sure thing, especially that uncle Bob doesn't want to deal with GBP.
- Sep 28, 2003
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All the key players in 140 are on Golden Boy except for Brandon Rios. Also Adrien Broner will be in the picture soon as well.
- Oct 16, 2012
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I'm not sure how Brandon Rios is going to fit into all of this due to him being a Top Rank fighter. I know Marquez vs. Rios has been a hot topic lately, and Brandon has also come out and said he'd like to fight Adrien Broner when he eventually makes the move to Jr Welter, but Broner is with GBP. I left Broner out of the picture for now because I believe that he will fight the winner of Burns vs. Vasquez this summer before making his move to 140. Once he does get to 140, he'll definitely be in contention for the top spot. A fight with Broner and Mayweather isn't happening though.
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- Oct 16, 2012
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As of right now, Brandon Rios is fighting next month against Mike Alvarado at 140. But if GBP and Top Rank aren't going to do business with one another, then I think it is in Rios' best interest to move up to 147 and fight either Marquez or Bradley. I know that in the past few weeks both Marquez and Rios have said that they are interested in fighting one another.
I think Ricky Burns knows that Broner will probably beat him which is why he priced himself out. He already moved up once to dodge Adrien, and it's funny that he wants 7 figures as the B-side. He doesn't have that type of drawing power.
I think Ricky Burns knows that Broner will probably beat him which is why he priced himself out. He already moved up once to dodge Adrien, and it's funny that he wants 7 figures as the B-side. He doesn't have that type of drawing power.
- Dec 9, 2006
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Boring snooze fest last night Showtime will continued to showcase Al Haymon fighters. GGG would eat both Leone & Smith. I would never pay for Khan vs Mayweather. Khan needs to through Garcia, Matthysse, Lopez, Brook, Ortiz, Berto, Guerrero, and then maybe Mayweather. GDP prob. give it easy to Khan .
- Nov 4, 2003
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When is GGG next fight? He's my favorite boxer right now
lightweight champion
Banned
- Jun 23, 2007
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lightweight champion
Banned
- Jun 23, 2007
- 13,481
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C'mon Ghost.
I like you but get real. That ain't happening.
- Jul 23, 2007
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either someone is tweeting for Ghost or he is trying too hard.
- Oct 16, 2012
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Lol at Guerrero's shot at Floyd. Floyd will start landing straight right hands at will in the middle rounds and coast to a wide UD.
- Sep 1, 2004
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so Donaire and Rigo are using both testing programs? why tho
i cant believe people are really saying if rigo doesnt take the test Donaire shouldnt pull out the fight and he would be a ***** if he did
i cant believe people are really saying if rigo doesnt take the test Donaire shouldnt pull out the fight and he would be a ***** if he did
- Sep 28, 2003
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He has to build his personality somehow. Aside from boxing fans no one has heard of him.
- Feb 1, 2012
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- Sep 28, 2003
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I don't know about you guys but I think its going to be a close ugly fight with Mayweather winning by decision. We'll see.
- Nov 8, 2004
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Ugly? Most likely. Close? Unlikely
- Oct 16, 2012
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- Oct 25, 2012
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I don't know if any of you saw Malik Scott fight Saturday Night, but why hasn't he gotten a title shot yet? He's undefeated with 35 wins. Is he an unattractive fighter, as far as excitement goes or what?
Weekend wrap up.
Saturday at Liverpool, England
Tony Thompson TKO2 David Price
Heavyweights
Records: Thompson (37-3, 25 KOs); Price (15-1, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Upset alert! Price, 29, of England, was a 2008 Olympic bronze medal winner and perhaps the hottest heavyweight prospect in boxing until this utter disaster. Price, the 2012 ESPN.com prospect of the year, was labeled by many as one of the future stars of a division in dire need of them. At 6-foot-8, 250 pounds, owner of a sledgehammer right hand and with an experienced team behind him, Price had big things expected of him. Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko had even talked about him as a possible challenger in the not-too-distant future.
Then it all fell apart against Thompson, 41, of Washington, D.C., whom the Price camp viewed as over the hill but an experienced enough veteran to make a solid fight and give Price a good name on his record. Thompson's only losses were a four-round decision in his fourth pro fight and two knockout losses to Klitschko in world championship fights, in the 11th round in 2008 and in the sixth round of his previous fight in July.
Now Price must rebuild after betting stopped in shocking fashion. It was such a surprise that the crowd of about 8,000 at the Echo Arena in Price's hometown -- which had lustily booed the United States national anthem in the prefight -- was suddenly absolutely silent when it was over.
Price started off well. He won the first round and was having his way with Thompson in the second round. He hurt Thompson with his calling-card right hand, forced him to the corner and was nailing him. Thompson sagged and took some wicked body shots while cornered. But he worked himself out of the jam and then, out of nowhere, with Price's left hand dangling at his side, Thompson took a step to the side and came inside with a short right hand that caught Price on a delicate area on the side of the head, around the ear and neck. Price immediately went down to his rear end, his right leg folding underneath him. Price beat the count, but his balance was gone and his legs were a wreck, and referee Steve Gray had no choice but to stop the fight at 2 minutes, 17 seconds.
For Thompson, it was a career-rejuvenating victory. He immediately called out Tyson Fury -- the other top rising heavyweight from Great Britain -- although he has an April 20 date set with former cruiserweight titlist Steve Cunningham. Thompson also said he heard the crowd booing the "Star Spangled Banner" and was motivated by the classless behavior. Maybe down the road Thompson will give a rematch to Price, who can rebound from this major setback but must start the climb all over again. If Price can take any solace in what happened, he needs only to look to Klitschko and British legend Lennox Lewis. Both were knocked out -- more than once -- and came back to become great heavyweight champions.
Frank Maloney, Price's promoter, who guided Lewis to the title, was so stressed by what happened to Price that he had to be taken from the arena on a stretcher and needed oxygen. He has a history of heart problems and actually signed Price while still in the hospital after suffering a heart attack a few years ago.
Saturday at Detroit
Ishe Smith W10 Cornelius "K9" Bundrage
Wins a junior middleweight title
Scores: 116-111 (twice) Smith, 114-113 Bundrage
Records: Smith (25-5, 11 KOs); Bundrage (32-5, 19 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Although the fight was horrendous, it was hard not to feel good for Smith, 34, who became the first Las Vegas native to win a world title, an amazing anecdote considering the city is the fight capital of the world. Smith could barely get a word out in his postfight interview on the Showtime broadcast because he was sobbing uncontrollably in a raw scene, and it was hard to blame him. A hugely talented but notorious underachiever, Smith said he contemplated suicide a few years ago when his career stagnated. With the help and encouragement of his promoter, pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., Smith eventually bounced back, earned a world title fight and then delivered in it. Smith said he got cut during training camp and also suffered a rib injury, but was determined not to pull out of the fight.
Although it was anything but a crowd-pleasing fight, Smith generally maintained control. The 114-113 scorecard in favor of Bundrage, 39, who was fighting in his hometown and making his third defense, was a bit of a shocker. Bundrage is a classy fighter and, to his credit, admitted that Smith won fair and square. Bundrage was aggressive but not effective at all. He swung wildly at Smith, who was content to counter and move.
Bundrage was docked a point by referee Sam Williams in the second round for hitting on the break. Smith hurt Bundrage with a right hand late in the fourth round, and an accidental head-butt opened a cut over Bundrage's right eye in the ninth. The best action of the fight -- seemingly the only action -- came in the 11th round as Smith hurt Bundrage along the ropes and Bundrage responded by getting in his own shots.
At 39 and coming off yet another fight that did little to excite the crowd, Bundrage doesn't have a clear place to go from here. Smith is in a good spot because he fights in a talent-rich division and has the right connections to help him score a bigger fight and the money and television exposure that will go with it.
J'Leon Love W10 Derrick Findley
Middleweights
Scores: 100-90, 99-91 (twice)
Records: Love (15-0, 8 KOs); Findley (20-9, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Love, 25, of Detroit, was supposed to fight long-faded Bronco McKart, but when McKart suffered an injury he was replaced by Findley, 28, of Gary, Ind. Findley has a lot of experience and toughness (he has been stopped only once in nine losses, by Andre Dirrell), but he's just an opponent -- one who dropped to 3-6 in his past nine bouts.
Findley deserved a closer outcome -- it wasn't as one-sided as the scores suggest -- but there was no doubt that Love won the fight. And for Love, the fight amounted to more than just a win: He fought in front of his hometown fans, opened a televised card and had Mayweather -- whose new deal with Showtime/CBS was the center of the telecast -- in his corner as his trainer. (Love is usually trained by Roger Mayweather, but Floyd's uncle has been ill, so Floyd took the reins and appeared to be really into carrying out the duties.)
The fight was quite competitive through the first few rounds, but Love eventually found his rhythm and began to belt Findley with solid combinations. He staggered Findley in the fourth round and opened a cut under his right eye. An accidental head-butt opened a cut over Love's right eye in the ninth, and Findley had some nice offensive moments as they closed the fight with a spirited 10th round. Love, who went 10 rounds for the first time in his career and was facing the best opponent of his career (although that's not saying much), is a prospect who might make some noise.
Also on the card, 2012 U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha (3-0, 2 KOs) of Cleveland rolled to a four-round shutout decision against Lekan Byfield (2-4-2, 0 KOs), 27, of Tarrytown, N.Y., in their super middleweight bout. All three judges had it 40-36 for Gausha.
Saturday at Huntington, N.Y.
Vyacheslav Glazkov D10 Malik Scott
Heavyweights
Scores: 96-94 Glazkov, 98-92 Scott, 95-95
Records: Glazkov (14-0-1, 10 KOs); Scott (35-0-1, 12 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Let's get this right out of the way: This was a bad decision. Scott, 32, of Philadelphia, might be one of the least aggressive, most boring fighters in boxing today, but he deserved the points win. Fighting in just his third scheduled 10-round bout, despite being a pro since 2000, he clearly outboxed Glazkov, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist from Russia, whose rising reputation took a hit with this mediocre performance.
Scott dominated with a solid left jab in an ordinary fight. Judge John Poturaj's 98-92 score seemed on the money. John McKaie's 96-94 for Glazkov was inconceivable, and Julie Lederman's draw scorecard must be questioned. NBC Sports Net commentator B.J. Flores, who usually is very good with his scoring, was utterly befuddled by the judges' cards -- as was Scott, and probably many others who watched the fight.
Glazkov was coming off a good performance in December when he made Tor Hamer quit after four rounds, but he couldn't keep the momentum going against Scott, who was offered the fight only after more than a dozen others turned down the opportunity to face Glazkov in a nationally televised bout.
Saturday at Gdansk, Poland
Przemyslaw Saleta KO6 Andrew Golota
Heavyweights
Records: Saleta (44-7, 22 KOs); Golota (41-9-1, 33 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: There's no accounting for taste in boxing, as this unfortunate fight between washed-up Polish heavyweights would attest. Saleta, who held the European title in 2002, was never a legit contender but garnered a fan following in Poland. Golota, boxing's bad boy for many years, was a top-notch contender at one point, but that was ages ago -- before he was disqualified twice for low blows against Riddick Bowe, going 0-3-1 in four world title bouts and quitting regularly. In fact, Golota has the distinction of having fought for each of the four major alphabet world titles and coming empty each time, including a first-round knockout to Lennox Lewis back in 1997 and a first-round knockout loss to Lamon Brewster in 2005.
Sadly, Saleta, 44 and out of the ring since a six-round decision win in 2006, and Golota, 45 and out of the ring since 2009 (and coming off back-to-back knockout losses), returned to fight each other and found a group of fans to help sell out the arena and buy the bout on Polish pay-per-view. Both fighters were severely diminished and couldn't get out of the way of each other's blows, making for a violent slugfest.
Golota, who seemed winded throughout the fight, kept losing (or spitting out) his mouthpiece. It happened at least five times, including in the midst of his being pounded in the sixth round, when the fighters traded toe-to-toe and Golota got the worst of it. After referee Leszek Jankowiak replaced the mouthpiece yet again in the sixth round, Golota rushed at Saleta and walked into a right hand that dropped him to the canvas. He took his time trying to beat the count and got to his feet just after Jankowiak had counted him out at 2 minutes, 49 seconds.
Let's hope this is, once and for all, the last time Golota steps into a boxing ring. At least Saleta said afterward that this would indeed be his final fight.
Saturday at Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Jhonny Gonzalez W12 Eusebio Osejo
Featherweights
Scores: 116-110, 115-112, 115-111
Records: Gonzalez (53-8, 45 KOs); Osejo (21-13-2, 7 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: In 2011, Gonzalez, 31, of Mexico, a former bantamweight titleholder, won a featherweight belt. He would go on to make four defenses before running into Daniel Ponce De Leon in September in Las Vegas. Ponce De Leon scored a sixth-round knockdown and won the title via eight-round technical decision when Gonzalez suffered a bad cut from an accidental head-butt and was unable to continue.
In his first bout since that title loss, Gonzalez returned to face Osejo, who put up a credible fight and even dropped Gonzalez in the fourth round. Osejo was ahead on the scorecards after four rounds, but Gonzalez got himself together and took control in the sixth round en route to the unanimous decision.
Gonzalez hopes to face Ponce De Leon in a rematch, but he will likely have at least one more fight first, a probable April match with former junior featherweight titlist Abner Mares. Osejo, 27, of Nicaragua, lost his third fight in a row and his fourth fight in his past five.
Saturday at Hermosillo, Mexico
Giovani Segura TKO9 Omar Salado
Flyweights
Records: Segura (29-2-1, 25 KOs); Salado (23-6-2, 14 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Segura, 30, of Mexico, is one of boxing's most entertaining fighters and, pound for pound, one of its heaviest hitters. The former junior flyweight world champion knocked out the great Ivan Calderon twice in world title fights and then moved up in weight to challenge flyweight titlist Brian Viloria in December 2011. In a rough fight, Segura, whose right eye was badly swollen, was stopped in the eight round because he could no longer see.
For Segura's first fight in the 14 months since that loss, he faced Mexico's Salado, 33, an experienced veteran who drew in a 2006 junior flyweight world title bout with Ulises Solis and fought earlier this month (a one-round no-contest with Puerto Rican prospect Jonathan Gonzalez).
Segura worked off the rust, and Salado came to fight, making for a crowd-pleasing bout. They traded a lot of shots, but after about five rounds it was all Segura. In the ninth round, he was clubbing Salado to the body and head when the referee finally intervened and called off the fight.
Saturday at Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.
Chris Avalos TKO4 Jose Luis Araiza
Junior featherweights
Records: Chris Avalos (21-2, 16 KOs) TKO4 Jose Luis Araiza (32-8-1, 23 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Once considered a blue-chip prospect, Avalos, 23, of Lancaster, Calif., got knocked off track a bit in recent years when he was upset by Christopher Martin in 2010 and Jonathan Romero (who later won a vacant world title) in 2011 -- both losses coming by split decision. Fighting for the first time since a victory last August, Avalos faced 34-year-old journeyman Araiza, of Mexico, who is now winless in his past eight fights (0-7-1).
Anyone could see how this one was going to go from the outset. During an exchange in the fourth round, Araiza suffered a cut over his left eye from an accidental head-butt. Although the ringside doctor said Araiza was OK to continue, he quit, and referee Lou Moret called off the bout at 1 minute, 42 seconds, resulting in the knockout victory for Avalos.
Also on the card, rugged Robert Garcia-trained light heavyweight prospect Trevor McCumby (10-0, 9 KOs), 20, of Chicago, pounded on Ricardo Campillo (7-6-1, 5 KOs), 37, of Mexico, throughout the co-featured bout for a lopsided unanimous decision, 60-54, 60-54, 60-53.
Friday at Washington, D.C.
Lamont Peterson TKO8 Kendall Holt
Retains a junior welterweight title
Records: Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KOs); Holt (28-6, 16 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: It has been a difficult 14 months for Peterson, but he put the hard times behind him with an authoritative stoppage of former titleholder Holt. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, Peterson, 29, made the first defense of the title he won by controversial split decision in Washington in December 2011 against England's Amir Khan. A Khan rematch had been set for May, but less than two weeks before the fight, Peterson failed a random drug test. He tested positive for synthetic testosterone (which he claimed he used for therapeutic reasons) and the fight was canceled. Peterson, stripped of one of his titles and fortunate to be allowed to keep the other, was eventually ordered to face Holt, 31, of Paterson, N.J. Holt became the mandatory challenger when he was appointed to fill the spot vacated by Zab Judah, who elected to take a much more lucrative fight with unified titlist Danny Garcia instead.
Holt got off to an excellent start, staying active and landing punches, while Peterson showed little for three rounds. But Peterson suddenly found his groove and got rolling. He knocked down Holt in the fourth round with a right hand, then dropped him again in the sixth round with an onslaught of punches that left Holt on his knees and in big trouble. Holt, who was fighting for the first time in 11 months after shoulder surgery, showed heart but was outgunned. He barely survived the seventh round and was being crushed in the eighth at the time of the stoppage. Peterson had unloaded about a dozen unanswered punches while Holt was trapped on the ropes when referee Tony Weeks stepped in at 1 minute, 42 seconds, setting off a wild celebration inside the DC Armory.
Holt, who dropped to 3-4 in his past seven bouts, said he would re-assess his career. He'll probably fight on, but if he does, he'll almost move up to welterweight after struggling mightily to get down to 140 pounds.
Peterson's future is bright, despite the lingering stigma from the bad drug test. A couple of weeks before the fight, he signed with Golden Boy Promotions, which represents most of boxing's top junior welterweights and welterweights. A rematch with Khan or a showdown with Garcia could soon be made, but Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer first hopes to bring Peterson back to Washington on May 18 to face interim titlist Lucas Matthysse, who is perhaps the best 140-pounder in the world.
Friday at Cabazon, Calif.
Alejandro Perez W10 Art Hovhannisyan
Junior lightweights
Scores: 96-93 (twice), 95-94
Records: Gonzalez (53-8, 45 KOs); Osejo (21-13-2, 7 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: The third time was the charm for Perez, 26, a native of Mexico living in Salinas, Calif. Twice Perez had received opportunities on national television but lost to quality opponents: Diego Magdaleno (who is scheduled to fight for a world title) and Rico Ramos (who won a world title). Back for a third time, Perez pulled the mild upset and edged Hovhannisyan, his good pal, with whom he has sparred dozens of rounds.
The fighters may be friends, but this was a very hard-fought battle. Perez's winning margin would have been a little wider, but he lost a point from referee Ray Corona for a low blow in the fifth round. Perez, who was coming off a one-year layoff, didn't let the penalty get him out of his game, as he continued to press forward, work the body and throw straight right hands. The Armenia-born Hovhannisyan, 31, who lives in Glendale, Calif., made the effort to box more, moving side to side and trying to counter, but he wasn't busy enough. Perez was just too much for him in this fast-paced, exciting bout, which ended with the crowd on its feet and the fighters trading toe-to-toe.
Tureano Johnson W8 Willie Fortune
Middleweights
Scores: 80-72 (three times)
Records: Gonzalez (53-8, 45 KOs); Osejo (21-13-2, 7 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Johnson, 29, a 2008 Olympian from the Bahamas, didn't turn pro until 2010, didn't fight at all in 2011 and then made up for lost time with nine fights in 2012. Making his 2013 debut, Johnson went past six rounds for the first time and dominated. He landed an absurd 59 percent of his punches (262 of 430), according to CompuBox. The fight was often target practice for Johnson, who landed well with both hands but was disappointed after the fight because he didn't get the knockout he had hoped for.
Still, Fortune, 31, of Detroit, was tough. Johnson pounded on him, but just when it appeared that Fortune might be in real trouble, he would throw just enough back to keep the fight going. Johnson doesn't have a big résumé but he represented a step up for Fortune, who had faced only two previous opponents with a record better than .500.
Tony Thompson TKO2 David Price
Heavyweights
Records: Thompson (37-3, 25 KOs); Price (15-1, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Upset alert! Price, 29, of England, was a 2008 Olympic bronze medal winner and perhaps the hottest heavyweight prospect in boxing until this utter disaster. Price, the 2012 ESPN.com prospect of the year, was labeled by many as one of the future stars of a division in dire need of them. At 6-foot-8, 250 pounds, owner of a sledgehammer right hand and with an experienced team behind him, Price had big things expected of him. Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko had even talked about him as a possible challenger in the not-too-distant future.
Then it all fell apart against Thompson, 41, of Washington, D.C., whom the Price camp viewed as over the hill but an experienced enough veteran to make a solid fight and give Price a good name on his record. Thompson's only losses were a four-round decision in his fourth pro fight and two knockout losses to Klitschko in world championship fights, in the 11th round in 2008 and in the sixth round of his previous fight in July.
Now Price must rebuild after betting stopped in shocking fashion. It was such a surprise that the crowd of about 8,000 at the Echo Arena in Price's hometown -- which had lustily booed the United States national anthem in the prefight -- was suddenly absolutely silent when it was over.
Price started off well. He won the first round and was having his way with Thompson in the second round. He hurt Thompson with his calling-card right hand, forced him to the corner and was nailing him. Thompson sagged and took some wicked body shots while cornered. But he worked himself out of the jam and then, out of nowhere, with Price's left hand dangling at his side, Thompson took a step to the side and came inside with a short right hand that caught Price on a delicate area on the side of the head, around the ear and neck. Price immediately went down to his rear end, his right leg folding underneath him. Price beat the count, but his balance was gone and his legs were a wreck, and referee Steve Gray had no choice but to stop the fight at 2 minutes, 17 seconds.
For Thompson, it was a career-rejuvenating victory. He immediately called out Tyson Fury -- the other top rising heavyweight from Great Britain -- although he has an April 20 date set with former cruiserweight titlist Steve Cunningham. Thompson also said he heard the crowd booing the "Star Spangled Banner" and was motivated by the classless behavior. Maybe down the road Thompson will give a rematch to Price, who can rebound from this major setback but must start the climb all over again. If Price can take any solace in what happened, he needs only to look to Klitschko and British legend Lennox Lewis. Both were knocked out -- more than once -- and came back to become great heavyweight champions.
Frank Maloney, Price's promoter, who guided Lewis to the title, was so stressed by what happened to Price that he had to be taken from the arena on a stretcher and needed oxygen. He has a history of heart problems and actually signed Price while still in the hospital after suffering a heart attack a few years ago.
Saturday at Detroit
Ishe Smith W10 Cornelius "K9" Bundrage
Wins a junior middleweight title
Scores: 116-111 (twice) Smith, 114-113 Bundrage
Records: Smith (25-5, 11 KOs); Bundrage (32-5, 19 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Although the fight was horrendous, it was hard not to feel good for Smith, 34, who became the first Las Vegas native to win a world title, an amazing anecdote considering the city is the fight capital of the world. Smith could barely get a word out in his postfight interview on the Showtime broadcast because he was sobbing uncontrollably in a raw scene, and it was hard to blame him. A hugely talented but notorious underachiever, Smith said he contemplated suicide a few years ago when his career stagnated. With the help and encouragement of his promoter, pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., Smith eventually bounced back, earned a world title fight and then delivered in it. Smith said he got cut during training camp and also suffered a rib injury, but was determined not to pull out of the fight.
Although it was anything but a crowd-pleasing fight, Smith generally maintained control. The 114-113 scorecard in favor of Bundrage, 39, who was fighting in his hometown and making his third defense, was a bit of a shocker. Bundrage is a classy fighter and, to his credit, admitted that Smith won fair and square. Bundrage was aggressive but not effective at all. He swung wildly at Smith, who was content to counter and move.
Bundrage was docked a point by referee Sam Williams in the second round for hitting on the break. Smith hurt Bundrage with a right hand late in the fourth round, and an accidental head-butt opened a cut over Bundrage's right eye in the ninth. The best action of the fight -- seemingly the only action -- came in the 11th round as Smith hurt Bundrage along the ropes and Bundrage responded by getting in his own shots.
At 39 and coming off yet another fight that did little to excite the crowd, Bundrage doesn't have a clear place to go from here. Smith is in a good spot because he fights in a talent-rich division and has the right connections to help him score a bigger fight and the money and television exposure that will go with it.
J'Leon Love W10 Derrick Findley
Middleweights
Scores: 100-90, 99-91 (twice)
Records: Love (15-0, 8 KOs); Findley (20-9, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Love, 25, of Detroit, was supposed to fight long-faded Bronco McKart, but when McKart suffered an injury he was replaced by Findley, 28, of Gary, Ind. Findley has a lot of experience and toughness (he has been stopped only once in nine losses, by Andre Dirrell), but he's just an opponent -- one who dropped to 3-6 in his past nine bouts.
Findley deserved a closer outcome -- it wasn't as one-sided as the scores suggest -- but there was no doubt that Love won the fight. And for Love, the fight amounted to more than just a win: He fought in front of his hometown fans, opened a televised card and had Mayweather -- whose new deal with Showtime/CBS was the center of the telecast -- in his corner as his trainer. (Love is usually trained by Roger Mayweather, but Floyd's uncle has been ill, so Floyd took the reins and appeared to be really into carrying out the duties.)
The fight was quite competitive through the first few rounds, but Love eventually found his rhythm and began to belt Findley with solid combinations. He staggered Findley in the fourth round and opened a cut under his right eye. An accidental head-butt opened a cut over Love's right eye in the ninth, and Findley had some nice offensive moments as they closed the fight with a spirited 10th round. Love, who went 10 rounds for the first time in his career and was facing the best opponent of his career (although that's not saying much), is a prospect who might make some noise.
Also on the card, 2012 U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha (3-0, 2 KOs) of Cleveland rolled to a four-round shutout decision against Lekan Byfield (2-4-2, 0 KOs), 27, of Tarrytown, N.Y., in their super middleweight bout. All three judges had it 40-36 for Gausha.
Saturday at Huntington, N.Y.
Vyacheslav Glazkov D10 Malik Scott
Heavyweights
Scores: 96-94 Glazkov, 98-92 Scott, 95-95
Records: Glazkov (14-0-1, 10 KOs); Scott (35-0-1, 12 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Let's get this right out of the way: This was a bad decision. Scott, 32, of Philadelphia, might be one of the least aggressive, most boring fighters in boxing today, but he deserved the points win. Fighting in just his third scheduled 10-round bout, despite being a pro since 2000, he clearly outboxed Glazkov, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist from Russia, whose rising reputation took a hit with this mediocre performance.
Scott dominated with a solid left jab in an ordinary fight. Judge John Poturaj's 98-92 score seemed on the money. John McKaie's 96-94 for Glazkov was inconceivable, and Julie Lederman's draw scorecard must be questioned. NBC Sports Net commentator B.J. Flores, who usually is very good with his scoring, was utterly befuddled by the judges' cards -- as was Scott, and probably many others who watched the fight.
Glazkov was coming off a good performance in December when he made Tor Hamer quit after four rounds, but he couldn't keep the momentum going against Scott, who was offered the fight only after more than a dozen others turned down the opportunity to face Glazkov in a nationally televised bout.
Saturday at Gdansk, Poland
Przemyslaw Saleta KO6 Andrew Golota
Heavyweights
Records: Saleta (44-7, 22 KOs); Golota (41-9-1, 33 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: There's no accounting for taste in boxing, as this unfortunate fight between washed-up Polish heavyweights would attest. Saleta, who held the European title in 2002, was never a legit contender but garnered a fan following in Poland. Golota, boxing's bad boy for many years, was a top-notch contender at one point, but that was ages ago -- before he was disqualified twice for low blows against Riddick Bowe, going 0-3-1 in four world title bouts and quitting regularly. In fact, Golota has the distinction of having fought for each of the four major alphabet world titles and coming empty each time, including a first-round knockout to Lennox Lewis back in 1997 and a first-round knockout loss to Lamon Brewster in 2005.
Sadly, Saleta, 44 and out of the ring since a six-round decision win in 2006, and Golota, 45 and out of the ring since 2009 (and coming off back-to-back knockout losses), returned to fight each other and found a group of fans to help sell out the arena and buy the bout on Polish pay-per-view. Both fighters were severely diminished and couldn't get out of the way of each other's blows, making for a violent slugfest.
Golota, who seemed winded throughout the fight, kept losing (or spitting out) his mouthpiece. It happened at least five times, including in the midst of his being pounded in the sixth round, when the fighters traded toe-to-toe and Golota got the worst of it. After referee Leszek Jankowiak replaced the mouthpiece yet again in the sixth round, Golota rushed at Saleta and walked into a right hand that dropped him to the canvas. He took his time trying to beat the count and got to his feet just after Jankowiak had counted him out at 2 minutes, 49 seconds.
Let's hope this is, once and for all, the last time Golota steps into a boxing ring. At least Saleta said afterward that this would indeed be his final fight.
Saturday at Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Jhonny Gonzalez W12 Eusebio Osejo
Featherweights
Scores: 116-110, 115-112, 115-111
Records: Gonzalez (53-8, 45 KOs); Osejo (21-13-2, 7 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: In 2011, Gonzalez, 31, of Mexico, a former bantamweight titleholder, won a featherweight belt. He would go on to make four defenses before running into Daniel Ponce De Leon in September in Las Vegas. Ponce De Leon scored a sixth-round knockdown and won the title via eight-round technical decision when Gonzalez suffered a bad cut from an accidental head-butt and was unable to continue.
In his first bout since that title loss, Gonzalez returned to face Osejo, who put up a credible fight and even dropped Gonzalez in the fourth round. Osejo was ahead on the scorecards after four rounds, but Gonzalez got himself together and took control in the sixth round en route to the unanimous decision.
Gonzalez hopes to face Ponce De Leon in a rematch, but he will likely have at least one more fight first, a probable April match with former junior featherweight titlist Abner Mares. Osejo, 27, of Nicaragua, lost his third fight in a row and his fourth fight in his past five.
Saturday at Hermosillo, Mexico
Giovani Segura TKO9 Omar Salado
Flyweights
Records: Segura (29-2-1, 25 KOs); Salado (23-6-2, 14 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Segura, 30, of Mexico, is one of boxing's most entertaining fighters and, pound for pound, one of its heaviest hitters. The former junior flyweight world champion knocked out the great Ivan Calderon twice in world title fights and then moved up in weight to challenge flyweight titlist Brian Viloria in December 2011. In a rough fight, Segura, whose right eye was badly swollen, was stopped in the eight round because he could no longer see.
For Segura's first fight in the 14 months since that loss, he faced Mexico's Salado, 33, an experienced veteran who drew in a 2006 junior flyweight world title bout with Ulises Solis and fought earlier this month (a one-round no-contest with Puerto Rican prospect Jonathan Gonzalez).
Segura worked off the rust, and Salado came to fight, making for a crowd-pleasing bout. They traded a lot of shots, but after about five rounds it was all Segura. In the ninth round, he was clubbing Salado to the body and head when the referee finally intervened and called off the fight.
Saturday at Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.
Chris Avalos TKO4 Jose Luis Araiza
Junior featherweights
Records: Chris Avalos (21-2, 16 KOs) TKO4 Jose Luis Araiza (32-8-1, 23 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Once considered a blue-chip prospect, Avalos, 23, of Lancaster, Calif., got knocked off track a bit in recent years when he was upset by Christopher Martin in 2010 and Jonathan Romero (who later won a vacant world title) in 2011 -- both losses coming by split decision. Fighting for the first time since a victory last August, Avalos faced 34-year-old journeyman Araiza, of Mexico, who is now winless in his past eight fights (0-7-1).
Anyone could see how this one was going to go from the outset. During an exchange in the fourth round, Araiza suffered a cut over his left eye from an accidental head-butt. Although the ringside doctor said Araiza was OK to continue, he quit, and referee Lou Moret called off the bout at 1 minute, 42 seconds, resulting in the knockout victory for Avalos.
Also on the card, rugged Robert Garcia-trained light heavyweight prospect Trevor McCumby (10-0, 9 KOs), 20, of Chicago, pounded on Ricardo Campillo (7-6-1, 5 KOs), 37, of Mexico, throughout the co-featured bout for a lopsided unanimous decision, 60-54, 60-54, 60-53.
Friday at Washington, D.C.
Lamont Peterson TKO8 Kendall Holt
Retains a junior welterweight title
Records: Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KOs); Holt (28-6, 16 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: It has been a difficult 14 months for Peterson, but he put the hard times behind him with an authoritative stoppage of former titleholder Holt. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, Peterson, 29, made the first defense of the title he won by controversial split decision in Washington in December 2011 against England's Amir Khan. A Khan rematch had been set for May, but less than two weeks before the fight, Peterson failed a random drug test. He tested positive for synthetic testosterone (which he claimed he used for therapeutic reasons) and the fight was canceled. Peterson, stripped of one of his titles and fortunate to be allowed to keep the other, was eventually ordered to face Holt, 31, of Paterson, N.J. Holt became the mandatory challenger when he was appointed to fill the spot vacated by Zab Judah, who elected to take a much more lucrative fight with unified titlist Danny Garcia instead.
Holt got off to an excellent start, staying active and landing punches, while Peterson showed little for three rounds. But Peterson suddenly found his groove and got rolling. He knocked down Holt in the fourth round with a right hand, then dropped him again in the sixth round with an onslaught of punches that left Holt on his knees and in big trouble. Holt, who was fighting for the first time in 11 months after shoulder surgery, showed heart but was outgunned. He barely survived the seventh round and was being crushed in the eighth at the time of the stoppage. Peterson had unloaded about a dozen unanswered punches while Holt was trapped on the ropes when referee Tony Weeks stepped in at 1 minute, 42 seconds, setting off a wild celebration inside the DC Armory.
Holt, who dropped to 3-4 in his past seven bouts, said he would re-assess his career. He'll probably fight on, but if he does, he'll almost move up to welterweight after struggling mightily to get down to 140 pounds.
Peterson's future is bright, despite the lingering stigma from the bad drug test. A couple of weeks before the fight, he signed with Golden Boy Promotions, which represents most of boxing's top junior welterweights and welterweights. A rematch with Khan or a showdown with Garcia could soon be made, but Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer first hopes to bring Peterson back to Washington on May 18 to face interim titlist Lucas Matthysse, who is perhaps the best 140-pounder in the world.
Friday at Cabazon, Calif.
Alejandro Perez W10 Art Hovhannisyan
Junior lightweights
Scores: 96-93 (twice), 95-94
Records: Gonzalez (53-8, 45 KOs); Osejo (21-13-2, 7 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: The third time was the charm for Perez, 26, a native of Mexico living in Salinas, Calif. Twice Perez had received opportunities on national television but lost to quality opponents: Diego Magdaleno (who is scheduled to fight for a world title) and Rico Ramos (who won a world title). Back for a third time, Perez pulled the mild upset and edged Hovhannisyan, his good pal, with whom he has sparred dozens of rounds.
The fighters may be friends, but this was a very hard-fought battle. Perez's winning margin would have been a little wider, but he lost a point from referee Ray Corona for a low blow in the fifth round. Perez, who was coming off a one-year layoff, didn't let the penalty get him out of his game, as he continued to press forward, work the body and throw straight right hands. The Armenia-born Hovhannisyan, 31, who lives in Glendale, Calif., made the effort to box more, moving side to side and trying to counter, but he wasn't busy enough. Perez was just too much for him in this fast-paced, exciting bout, which ended with the crowd on its feet and the fighters trading toe-to-toe.
Tureano Johnson W8 Willie Fortune
Middleweights
Scores: 80-72 (three times)
Records: Gonzalez (53-8, 45 KOs); Osejo (21-13-2, 7 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Johnson, 29, a 2008 Olympian from the Bahamas, didn't turn pro until 2010, didn't fight at all in 2011 and then made up for lost time with nine fights in 2012. Making his 2013 debut, Johnson went past six rounds for the first time and dominated. He landed an absurd 59 percent of his punches (262 of 430), according to CompuBox. The fight was often target practice for Johnson, who landed well with both hands but was disappointed after the fight because he didn't get the knockout he had hoped for.
Still, Fortune, 31, of Detroit, was tough. Johnson pounded on him, but just when it appeared that Fortune might be in real trouble, he would throw just enough back to keep the fight going. Johnson doesn't have a big résumé but he represented a step up for Fortune, who had faced only two previous opponents with a record better than .500.
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