21.05.06 – By Shon Macklin: Boxing’s most harsh critics have said that boxing, as a sport is slipping. That the great champions like Lennox Lewis, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Felix Trinidad are gone; and therefore, the boxing superstars of yesterday have faded, as the sport itself. Well I say they are wrong! I say it’s a pack of lies! I say that boxing is doing a great job. I say exit the old, and enter the new! The new fighters and the heir to the championship thrones have served boxing well. And boxing got busy this year with compelling bouts, some unexpected upsets, and somehow managed to produce one of the most action- packed, one-sided match-ups I’ve ever seen!
Boxing in 2006 has offered its fans some memorable moments by kicking off the New Year with the Cruiserweight unification bout between Jean –Marc Mormec and O’Neil Bell. On January 7th, two men stepped into the square circle; Mormec, and Bell
commenced to slaughtering each other causing damage to each other in spectacular fashion. It’s almost as if sparks flew off the gloves of these fighters. This fight was bombarded with intense, non –stop action. A brawl of great proportions! A brawl for the unified, undisputed Cruiserweight championship of the world. The ebb and flow of this fight was extremely satisfying in the sense that you had two big, strong guys showcasing great heart and determination. But when they got tired, when they clearly had nothing much left to give and the fight would slow down; they would somehow muster enough strength to continue to keep fighting, to keep pushing for the goal…
Each fighter threw his share of hard punches, and it was clear it was taking its toll on their bodies. But neither fighter was willing to throw out their game plan or try a “Plan B”. They both laid their cards on the table, and fought accordingly, until one had to inevitably falter. The first unified Cruiserweight Champion since Evander Holyfield, realized his fate when he cornered his opponent in the tenth round and pummeled his victim until he lay crumbled, on the floor. O’neil Bell conquered the bull, Jean-Marc Mormec.
Zab Judah, the Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the world; would lose all his belts except one when he faced Carlos Baldomir. Baldomir would take over the second half of the fight; which looked to be an easy victory, for Judah.
Manny Pacquiao would go on to defeat Eric Morales in their highly anticipated rematch via 10th round knockout. Pacquiao seemed much improved this time against Morales. Combination punching was the difference maker here as Pacquiao threw three and four punches together toward the head and body of Morales. He threw right hooks and counter right hooks to the head of Morales that would remain unanswered throughout the fight.
In the month of February, Paul the “Magic Man” Malignaggi showed his slight of hand as he pulled out the tricks up his sleeve to win a decision, and went practically untouched against Donald Camarena, peppering him with blazing punches.
Emanuel Augustus defeats southpaw, Jaime Rangel. This fight was a barnburner! Rangel started the fight very strong. Troubling Augustus on occasion in the early rounds. But by round four Augustus came out firing on all cylinders. By the sixth round, Augustus really turned the jets on, landing brutal shots on Rangel. Augustus had his moments when he was throwing punches; he
was really dominating the fight when this occurred. But other times he would take a lot of rounds off and fight defensively. Rangel would find himself winning the fight on points. It wasn’t until the tenth and final round that Augustus put together the proper punches with both speed and power that he would find himself dropping Rangel with what seemed to be the perfect
combination. Rangel would get up and continue on but Augustus proved to much as he dropped Rangel again. Rangel couldn’t recover from the second knockdown and was on unsteady legs, when the referee decided to stop the fight with about 30 seconds left in final round.
OTHER FIGHT RESULTS:
Andre Ward wins a UD over Kendall Gould.
John Duddy wins a UD over Julio Jean.
Mohammed Said wins a MD over Jonathan Reid.
Miguel Espino wins a UD over Dorian Beaupierre.
Peter Manfredo wins by TKO3 Over Scott Pemberton.
Edison Miranda wins by TKO7 Over Howard Eastman.
Shane Mosely wins by TKO10 Over Fernando Vargas.
Curtis Stevens wins by KO2 Over Jose Spearman.
In March, we saw the showdown between two Super middleweights, Jeff Lacy and Joe Calzaghe. The fight I consider to be the best one-sided affair I’ve seen in boxing. From the opening bell Jeff Lacy was tattered with left and right hands without cease. Lacy had no answer for Calzaghe’s attack. Calzaghe laid out a flawless plan, as Lacy’s nose was bloodied in the first. Cuts opening in the 4th after a clash of heads ensued. Calzaghe took advantage of it as he threw punches at all angles. Lacy’s defense was null and void against Calzaghe’s onslaught.
There were times when Calzaghe was able to rest his arms and keep them down at his sides, and still manage to fire off punches at will.Lacy was against the ropes at times and appeared staggered with left crosses from Calzaghe. Lacy walked into Calzaghe’s punches all night, and never gave up trying to score the knockout. He kept pressing forward and Calzaghe continuously took advantage of it. Calzaghe walks away with a virtual shut out.
OTHER FIGHT RESULTS:
Sam Soliman wins by TKO6 Over Raul Munoz.
Vic Darchinyan one punch KO Over Diosdado Gabi.
Demetrius Hopkins wins by decision Over Mario Jose Ramos.
Hasim Rahman and James Toney Fight to a draw.
John Duddy wins by TKO1 Over Shelby Pudwill.
In April, Zab Judah would face off against Floyd Mayweather jr. just a few short months after losing to Carlos Baldomir. Judah fought tough against Mayweather and for the first four rounds; added an effective strategy against Mayweather. But Mayweather was able to regain his composure in the later rounds and win by Unanimous Decision.
Wladimir Klitschko takes The Championship belt held by Chris Byrd by brutal TKO. Much like their first fight years ago, Klitschko continued his masterful boxing technique; which proved to be too much for Byrd. Byrd tried a new strategy against Klitschko; which was to try and press forward and knock him out. This strategy proved fruitless for Byrd. As Klitschko simply pushed his jab in Byrd’s face, blinding him, and then commence to rocketing his right hand to the left side of the southpaw’s face. It was only a matter of time that the right hand of Klitschko would find It’s target and after knocking Byrd down a couple of times, the referee would rightfully stop the fight when Byrd got up from his final knockdown with blood pouring from his left eye.
OTHER FIGHT RESULTS:
Gary Starks jr. wins by TKO2 Over Terrence Roy.
Dominick Guinn wins by UD Over Audley Harrison.
Jason Gavern wins by UD Over Rafael Butler.
Andre Ward wind by TKO6 Over Andy Kolle.
Curtis Stevens wins by UD Over Carl Daniels.
Allen Green wins by KO6 Over Donnie McCrary.
As a fan of the sport, it is fairly easy to say that boxing in 2006 has been stellar thus far, boasting its good match-ups, and good action. There isn’t much more one can ask for. With the upcoming boxing schedule to look forward to, it is clear to see how this year, is a huge year for the sport of boxing. I’ve enjoyed the show so far. And I’m sure it is just the beginning.