Bleacher Report - Articles by Kenneth Ragpala

Boxing: Shane Langford In His Own Words

Kenneth Ragpala — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:14:10 -0500

People live with the cards fate dealt them with. Others may have the odds favoring their lives, while some have to keep on living with everything stacked against them. For Shane Langford, boxing was supposed to be his ticket to grandeur.

But glory inside the ring will never be his. Despite his impressive amateur career in his native Canada, the 32-year old 1999 Canadian National Amateur Boxing Tournament bronze medalist was, according to him, mishandled by the people who were supposed to look out for him.

When he turned professional in 2000 at super bantamweight, Langford’s first two bouts were against a very seasoned veteran in Steve Molitor, who had 30 victories in 31 bouts at the time.

Needless to say, Langford’s lack of experience in professional prizefighting, plus the fact that his first opponent was a highly-skilled boxer delivered Langford his first two losses.

He will taste his only victory in his third fight opposite a fellow Canadian boxer Sheldon Wile, who was then 2-0. All succeeding fights ended in a loss, except one bout which resulted in a draw.

After his fifth professional bout, Langford, now a homeless boxer living off in the streets of Los Angeles, met Pepper Roach, Freddie Roach’s brother, and he was taken under the care of the famed boxing trainers/siblings.

The Roaches tried to reignite Langford’s career, but despite it all, Langford’s dreams of becoming a world champion seemed to have never been etched in stone.

The final blow came from Jorge Espinoza when Langford faced him in April 1, 2005. Langford suffered his final loss via a tremendous beating at the expense of his left eye. The punishment he took closed his left eye forever.

The cards dealt to Langford are cruel to say the least. Losing a career in general and an eye in particular is a double whammy indeed. Langford’s professional boxing career ended with the record 1-7-1.

But fate may have other things planned for the former brawler from Canada. After recovering from his last bout, Roach offered him a job as custodian of the world-renowned Wild Card Boxing Club.

Under Freddie Roach’s tutelage, Langford immersed himself with knowledge of the Sweet Science the boxing guru has to teach him. Eventually, Roach allowed him to train his own fighters and have Langford assist him when Roach is working with top-class boxers.

Prominence and popularity also came to Langford when he was featured in the award-winning series 24/7 Pacquiao-Hatton. Today, Langford has his own droves of fans and a short list of clients, mostly amateur boxers.

Read my Q and A with Shane here

Mia Eteläpelto: In Her Own Words

Kenneth Ragpala — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:23:19 -0500

If there is anything that can take a boxing fan’s attention from a good boxing match, it would be a fine babe. And fine babes can top a good brawl any time of the day. So perhaps it is a consensus desire amongst men that the two would mesh together.

Enter Mia Eteläpelto.

Miss Eteläpelto parades a fine female physique that boasts a towering 5’11” frame, a slender body, and a face that could easily land on a beauty magazine’s cover page and put other models to shame. A native of Finland, the 31-year-old Mia never had any plans of scorching the catwalk and get involved in cat fights. But get this: She loves to fight.

Instead of dominating the modeling world, Mia opted to dominate a sport that cashes in on brutality, and she is quickly becoming very good at it. It is pretty hard to imagine how someone as lovely as Mia could get involved in a sport like boxing. However, after seeing her fight resume, a person would certainly be impressed and yet perplexed at the same time.

Mia’s accomplishments, which are comprised of amateur championships in 2003, 2004, and 2006, are extraordinary to say the least. However, she continually aims higher and has enlisted the help of Freddie Roach’s prodigy Shane Langford (yes, the one-eyed guy featured in Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7) to train her for the pros.

0n June 6, 2009, Mia debuted with flying colors, as she easily scored a unanimous decision over fellow professional newcomer Mia Henderson at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California. As for the moment, nobody is in a hurry to fill the position of opponent No. 2.

To check my Q and A with Mia, click here.

Gerry Penalosa Should Retire for Good

Kenneth Ragpala — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:25:33 -0400

Former two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa has expressed his desire to fight Mexican Fernando Montiel for the latter’s WBO bantamweight title. This dream bout with Montiel is, according to Penalosa, his last hurrah before he finally hangs his gloves and ride on to the sunset.

While it is an admirable endeavor to begin with, there is no need for Penalosa to step inside the squared circle one more time. Parading an already very venerable record (54-7-2, 36 KOs) and besting top caliber fighters from all over the world, Penalosa has a great career from start to finish, though it did not end in a bang.

In his last bout against Puerto Rican sensation and current WBA super bantamweight titleholder Juan Manuel Lopez, Penalosa took a beating in that fight. Though he fought courageously, Penalosa was on the losing end from the get-go and there was no way for him to win.

If Freddie Roach wasn’t there, Penalosa could have tasted the defeat by a knockout, literally.

The fight with Juanma should be an eye-opener for Penalosa—he is old, way past his prime, and could no longer dig it in with the top guys. Fighting for one more belt, for another shot at glory may come at a heavy price.

A lot of fighters still fought despite the fact that their bodies can no longer endure such punishments. A number of boxers have taken too many blows to the heads, staggered on for too many rounds, fought on for too many bouts, and retired too late. Muhammad Ali is a prime example.

But if Penalosa wants an example that hits close to home, he’s no other than Freddie Roach. Roach’s career extensively continued when it should have ended much earlier. And the toll was great. Waking up every day knowing that Parkinson’s is eating away your motor skills and other physical capabilities is an agonizing reality Roach faces everyday.

There’s no need for Penalosa to go the same route his trainer did. He's a great champion and there is certainly no need to prove that to world.

So to you, Gerry “Fearless” Penalosa, hang those gloves for good.

Check my other boxing babble at Boxers' Camp.

Lopez Survives Mtagwa's Late Rally To Retain Featherweight Title

Kenneth Ragpala — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:38:47 -0400

A lot of us got surprised last Saturday when WBO junior featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez defeated challenger Rogers Mtagwa from Tanzania in a very unfamiliar fashion.

Clearly, almost everyone (writer included) was hoping for an early stoppage for Lopez when he stepped up against Mtagwa.

Lopez won the fight all right, but almost everybody was wrong in their predictions. It went the distance, something we rarely see when Lopez fights.

Last Saturday in a jam-packed Madison Square Garden, thousands of boxing aficionados (mostly of Puerto Rican lineage) witnessed a very exhausted and battered Lopez weathered a Mtagwa assault in the final three rounds to win via a unanimous decision.

One thing I did not put into the equation is how resilient and tough Mtagwa is. I may have judged him poorly based on his record and the quality of list previous opponents. But he has proven a lot wrong when they said he was an easy target for Lopez.

With the win, Lopez improves to a 27-0, 24 KOs, while Mtagwa drops to 25-13-2. It may not have been a walk in the park as most boxing pundits imagined it would be, but it was a tough victory and Lopez deserves the accolades for facing such a tough fighter.

Probable opponent for Lopez in his next match is Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0, 14 KOs) who fought as part of the co-main event of Lopez-Mtagwa fight. Unlike Lopez, Gamboa effortlessly dispatched challenger Whyber Garcia (22-7) in the a fourth-round TKO in his successful defense of the WBA featherweight title.

Check my other boxing babble at Boxers' Camp.

Open Letter To Manny Pacquaio: Lose Mike Koncz

Kenneth Ragpala — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:43:40 -0400

Dear Manny Pacquiao,

In the name of everything that is boxing, please fire Michael Koncz. I do know that in this sport that you so love passionately, you need to surround yourself with people who:

• knows the ins and outs of boxing;

• believes in your skills;

• tells you what’s right and wrong and mean it;

• you can trust and trust you in return;

• really looks after you.

Of all the traits I believe members of your inner circle should possess, none of them ever fits to the character of your US-based Canadian manager. All he does is yap on the things you should do, which of course you shouldn’t be doing.

What the hell was he thinking when he said Roach is not healthy for your career anymore?

Yeah, bummer right?

As if Koncz knows boxing. Roach has produced a lot of champions in his training career and knows the boxing trade better than anyone.

Hell, he even got Parkinson’s because he loves the sport so much.

You’re not going to fire Roach, are you? If not, then good. You’re better off with Roach.

Another indication why you should ditch Koncz is that your best friend and second mate, Buboy, hates him. Here’s a video of him subtly expressing his sincere and heartfelt dislike for the man who is currently managing your affairs with a barrage of classic Filipino expletives.

If Koncz wants the best for you and looks after your well-being, why did he sign up Jose Luis Castillo as a sparring partner for your showdown against Cotto? Granted he was great, but that was before!

Even Roach stated he could never use Castillo, as he does not emulate Cotto’s style.

What’s Koncz trying to do? Sell you to the devil?

Just fire the guy already.

Cheers,

Just a Boxing Fan

An Easy Title Fight For Juanma Lopez

Kenneth Ragpala — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:59:55 -0400

After a giving former world champion Gerry Penalosa his first defeat by knockout in April 2009 and dispatching Oliver Lontchi last June, Puerto Rico’s boxing sensation Juan Manuel Lopez will once again put his WBO junior featherweight title on the line on October 10th in New York. Coming to the fight with a clean 26-0 record, 24 knockouts, Lopez will defend his title for the third time.

Challenger Rogers Mtagwa from Tanzania will try to take the belt from Lopez, but with a record of 26-12-2, it seems the Tanzanian has a huge assignment in his hands come fight night. That said, Mtagwa comes from three-win streak.

Bookers favor Lopez to easily win this bout against Mtagwa. And from the looks of it, chances for a Mtagwa upset is highly unlikely. It does not take a rocket scientist to say why Lopez will dominate and embarrass the Tanzanian challenger come fight night.

First, Lopez is gifted with sheer punching power. Even the great champion, Gerry "Fearless" Penalosa, who was never knocked out in his entire career, surrendered to the devastating onslaught conjured by the Puerto Rican (technically, it was Freddie Roach, Penalosa’s trainer, who dissuaded Penalosa from continuing the fight).

In addition to that, Lopez’s knockout rate is 92.3 percent, one of the highest knockout percentages in the lower weights. Second, the qualities of Lopez’s last three oppositions are far more superior in contrast to the opponents faced by Mtagwa.

Lopez last three wins were against Olivier Lontchi (18-1-2), Penalosa (54-7-2), and Sergio Manuel Medina (33-2).

All of them are top caliber fighters, with the exception of Lontchi, who is still young and has a lot to prove. Mtagwa’s last three bouts, all victories, were against Ricardo Medina (31-34-5), Tomas Villa (20-6-4), and Aldo Valtierra (25-11). From the records of their previous opponents, it is mighty clear who fought the best fighters.

Third, Lopez is fast as he is powerful. When speed and power combine, mayhem ensues. If you will be betting on this fight, bet on Lopez. He’s clearly cut to win this one hands down.

For other dose of my sports ramblings, please check my blogs Frustrated Sports Analyst and Boxers' Camp.

Rey Boom Boom Bautista Seeks Redemption

Kenneth Ragpala — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:35:47 -0400

Redemption.

This has got to be the only thing that fuels the returning Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista, 26-2, as he gears up for another battle in the squared circle. The Bohol native will be fighting Indonesia’s Marangin Marbun for the vacant interim WBC International featherweight title.

This fight should be Bautista’s critical gauge. Does he have what it takes to box again after getting knocked out viciously in his first defeat and being schooled and bullied in the next?

Mexican Juan Ponce de Leon, who delivered the Bohol native’s first defeat, showed the world Bautista’s chin is a nice target for power punchers. Another Mexican, the durable Heriberto Ruiz, exposed Bautista as nothing but a slugger who relies heavily in his power-loaded right fist in the second loss of the Filipino’s career.

Redemption.

It’s nearly a year since Bautista stepped inside the ring. And this time, he has to excel. Not just with power shots, but with excellent defense, footwork, and rhythm. Marbun may not look so good with a 23-18 record, but the Indonesian must not be taken lightly.

As Sun Tzu said centuries before, “never underestimate your enemy.”

The question now is can Bautista prove he is more than just a hard-punching machine? Can he box? Can he dance around the ring if his opponent can take his shots, instead of trying to force the issue like what happened against Ruiz?

Can he evolve?

Fernando Vargas To Fight Again: A Bad Move from an Admirable Man

Kenneth Ragpala — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:41:53 -0400

In the near future, another boxer will once again prove that it’s hard to stay outside the ring after hanging up the gloves. Over two years of staying away from the squared circle, former Olympian and two-time light middleweight champion Fernando Vargas announced his intentions to once again step into the ring in 2010.

But is this a good idea to begin with?

The 31-year-old pugilist Mexican-American boasts of 22 victories, including those over former world champions Raul Marquez, Ike Quartey, and Winky Wright. His five defeats came from the hands of boxing’s top caliber fighters, Felix Trinidad, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, and Ricardo Mayorga. He lost to Mosley twice.

Back to the question, perhaps it is better said if asked this way: “Is Vargas fit to fight again?”

From an avid follower of the Sweet Science, it is best that Vargas remains retired, and for a number of reasons at that.

First, he is no longer in his prime. Vargas has grown old and so are his skills, or what has left of it. His last fight, which ended in a loss to Mayorga, showed how Vargas declined in the later part of his career. Decked by Mayorga once in the rounds one and 11, Vargas was never really n the fight, save for a few moments of spurts.

Second, his injuries will punish him severely if he decides to go on with his decision to lace those gloves once more. On December 12, 2003, Vargas fought and dispatched an unknown Tony Marshall in seven rounds, but also injured a disc in his back.

Against doctor’s recommendation, Vargas went on to self rehabilitate his disc rather than have a surgery. As a result, Vargas was inactive for nearly two years.

Thirds, his last three fights, all defeats, showed he struggles against elite boxers. While he successfully orchestrated his comeback in 2005 with convincing wins against quality opposition, Ray Joval of the Netherlands and Javier Castillejo of Spain, both via unanimous decision, they were still not as good as his next opponents.

The following year marked which should have been Vargas’ last dance, two bouts with Sugar Shane Mosley.

On February 25, 2006, Vargas faced Mosley for the first time in a tight seesaw struggle. However, Mosley’s punches began to take their toll on Vargas’ right eye. It was swollen to the pulp.

In the tenth round, referee Joe Cortez halted the bout and awarded the TKO victory to Mosley, stating that Vargas’s right eye was swollen shut he could no longer defend himself against Mosley’s right-hand punches. The doctor of the bout also supported Cortez’ decision.

Five months later, they once again squared for their rematch. This time, Mosley won in six rounds, totally dominating and later on downed Vargas via a left hook to the body. Although Vargas beat the count, he was completely disoriented that he was not able to defend himself against Mosley’s next flurries. Preventing further injury to Vargas, referee Kenny Bayless stepped in and called a halt to the bout at 2:38 mark in the sixth round.

Two years after the loss to Mayorga, Vargas called out Hector Camacho, Jr., for a bout in 2010. His wife already expressed her disapproval, some boxing experts also voiced reservations, and this writer says Vargas’ career has seen better days. But why fight again?

It is certainly not about the money. Vargas has his own clothing line and also appears in the movies. In fact, he even founded the Ferocious Foundation for Kids as his means to give back to the community.

Perhaps it’s that fighter mentality wherein a boxer needs to stay in the ring to feel alive. Or maybe it is another attempt to reconfigure his career’s end. A personal quest of his? Only Vargas knows.

But one thing is certain, despite strong objections for Vargas to fight again, one cannot help but admire the man, consciously or subconsciously. It may look like foolhard stupidity to most, but a fighter like Vargas, sometimes you have to admit they are quite a find.

Also check The Frustrated Sports Analyst and Boxer's Camp for more of my sports blabber.

Gorgeous Fighting Females

Kenneth Ragpala — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:30:05 -0400

When it comes to highly competitive combat sports, those with well-defined female physique (plump breasts, nice body, and a face to match) are conventionally limited to do in-between round duties, which consists mainly of hoisting a number indicating the next round of the bout. That was before, not anymore.

Female fighters may have emerged years ago, but now we are seeing a new generation of femme fatales that could knock men off their feet, literally. These fighters may have taken the modeling and acting route, and they would have mightily excelled at it. But the call to fight was much stronger, fortunately for us, the hordes of male fans who equally like brawls and babes.

Laila Ali was hot. So was Vonda Ward if she didn’t have those muscles on her. But their time has passed and a new breed of gorgeous fighters is coming to take their place.

Chika Nakamura

Originally from Japan, 5’7" Chika Nakamura was a basketball star and famous swimmer in her home country before she decided to try her luck in boxing in the United States. Parading an 8-0 record, Chika is simply a knockout when she is not in her boxer mode.

As they say, there is nothing hotter than a hot Asian chick.

Gina Carano

If you ever treat MMA fighter Gina Carano wrong, expect to get a dose Muay Thai strikes and blows that will land you in a hospital bed with a busted nose, broken ribs, and a damaged spleen. Cyborg Santos may have given Gina her first loss in eight fights, but still, Gina is way hotter and prettier than the Jiu Jitsu specialist.

Ana Julaton

She may be petite, but this little Filipina will surely knock the wind out of you with furious punch combinations. 5’5" boxer Ana Julaton is more than just an exotic Filipina beauty. She has showed tremendous heart when she recently captured the IBA Super Bantamweight World Championship in only her fifth professional victory, a feat no one has achieved, and against a 10-year, vastly-experienced multi-champion Kelsey Jeffries.

Tiffany Junot

When in the ring, boxer Tiffany Junot is relentless. She punches in bunches and applies pressure to all her opponents, even against the famed Chika Nakamura.

Outside the squared circle, Tiffany, in one word, is FOXY.

Aby Rulloda

At first glance, you will think she is a model. Truth be told, Aby Rulloda is in fact a model, and a gogo dancer as well. But if you think you can get your hands easily on this beauty, prepare to be peppered by mean kicks.

Undefeated in four fights, Aby Rulloda is a kickboxer and she will definitely not hesitate to use those legs to give you a good spanking, er beating. Consider yourself a lucky man if she fancies you.

Fight fans, we are lucky indeed.

This article is also featured at Boxers' Camp, with pics and related links.

Pacquiao-Cotto: Almost an Even Match

Kenneth Ragpala — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:35:23 -0400

With less than two months to go, both Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are gearing up for their very much anticipated superfight. The significance of the bout will be of great importance, as both fighters have a lot of things at stake, along with Miguel Cotto’s WBO welterweight belt.

Should Pacquiao wins, he will be the first Asian and the only boxer who coveted seven championships in seven different divisions and further solidify his status not just a P4P topper but also an all-time great. A loss to Cotto would diminish his camp’s negotiating power with Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who recently dismantled Pacquiao’s archnemesis effortlessly.

As for Cotto, a win will not only retain his belt, it will also elevate him the P4P rankings, perhaps to the fourth or fifth slot, overtaking current holders Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins. Also, victory over Pacquiao can potentially set up a fight between him and Money Mayweather , which may prove to be a juicy payday for the Puerto Rican boxer.

At the time of this writing, Pacquiao is the clear favorite, with +210 odds. On the other hand, Cotto is -250.

But before you place your bets, here’s a breakdown of the both fighters’ strengths and weaknesses.

Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao main advantage will be his speed. It always has been his main asset and has been evident in his last five outings (Hatton, Dela Hoya, Diaz, Marquez, and Barrera). Another to consider is his underrated power.

Many have felt that with Manny going up in weight, his power would likely decrease. But as shown in the recent Hatton fight, Pacquiao not only shown he has power, he now packs power in both hands. He’s no longer a left-hand dynamite puncher he once was.

His extreme mobility will also come into play. Pacquiao’s quick movements have been the bane of Dela Hoya during the Dream Match. Against Cotto, Pacquiao must move well in order to avoid power shots from Cotto.

Pacquiao’s stamina has been tried and tested. The Filipino southpaw can even go 15 rounds without gassing out. And to make a perfectly clear observation, he seems to get stronger as the fight progresses.

One of Pacquiao’s chinks in his armor is his tendency to be reckless especially when exchanging flurries. At times, he is open for counters and overexerts himself just to win a trade.

Miguel Cotto

Mean body punching will be a key to this fight. Aggression should be Cotto’s mantra if he wants to deliver power shots to Pacquiao’s body.

Cotto is also a durable fighter who can take a punch. His bouts with Clottey and Mosley show how strong this guy’s chin is.

Many do not realize that Cotto is an effective counterpuncher and that will serve him well in his bout against Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s close fights have been with counterpunchers, notably Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Cotto, however, cuts easily and if he is cut in the earlier rounds, he could be in deep trouble as Pacquiao can easily switch from a boxer to a brawler if he smells victory.

My odds in this fight: 60-40 in favor of Pacquiao. Speed kills, you know.

This article is also featured in Boxers' Camp.

Mayweather Victory Over Marquez: No Glory at All

Kenneth Ragpala — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:24:53 -0400

It was a mismatch right from the start. Heart was the only thing working for Marquez—and the catch weight of 144 pounds.

But still, I hoped for a Marquez victory. I followed the 24/7 series and even if Marquez drank his own piss, I still would have egged myself to root for the guy they call Dinamita.

But after they weighed in the night before the fight, I discounted all possibilities of a Marquez upset.

Four pounds were too much of an advantage. Did Marquez get paid for the Money’s excess weight to be beaten up like that? One can only speculate.

But the thing is, in my own opinion, Mayweather made sure he would win this fight. Of course, any fighter would want to have all the aces at his disposal, but bulking up and getting away with it?

The win does not, in any way, contain pride and dignity and does not elevate Mayweather to new heights. Instead, the win becomes a tool in another barrage of criticisms.

True, Mayweather is slick, has a good defense, and owns a pair of the fastest hands in the sport. But was he fair when he fought Marquez? Not in my eyes.

The weight issue also reminded me of a recent fight between Nonito Donaire of the Philippines and Rafael Concepcion of Panama. Donaire made it through the weight check, while Concepcion registered way over the limit. Donaire’s technical mastery of the sport, along with his inborn speed, helped him earn a victory at a weight disadvantage.

But Marquez does not have inborn speed.

And the clear thing was Marquez was not able to carry his punching power when he went up in weight. His punches didn’t even make a dent on Mayweather’s face.

Instead, Dynamite Johnny invoked sarcastic smiles from Mayweather, egging the Mexican to punch a lot harder.

What was clear is that Mayweather fought someone who climbed two weight classes and also suffered a four-pound disadvantage to face him.

It wasn’t the great and legendary Juan Manuel Marquez-Mayweather fought, but some guy who was a bit slower, smaller, less powerful, and a lot lighter.

Mayweather may have defeated boxing’s second-best fighter. But did he really deserve the glory from it?

Boxing's New Tonic: La Dinamita Essential

Kenneth Ragpala — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:40:34 -0400

For all reasons and their worth, I want Juan Manuel Marquez to knock the hell out of Floyd Mayweather, Jr., come September 19 in Las Vegas. I have great admiration for JMM despite his sour graping rants over the controversial results of his bouts with Pacquiao. He is a legend of the sport and will definitely have his name carved in the Hall of Fame when the time comes.

But after watching the second episode of Mayweather-Marquez 24/7, I do not know whether I should react violently in disgust or let my fanatic appreciation on the man they call “Dinamita” grow exponentially. I know lots of men who have went far out of their way to gain the upper hand in every athletic contest, but Dynamite Johnny tops them all.

Swimmers wear sharkskin suits to give them speed when gliding through water. Tennis players get the best rackets in the world so they can register a 90-mile per hour serve. Heck, even Tiger Woods has a constant supply of energy drink to keep him putting those birdies.

But drinking your own urine? Man, “Dinamita” just blew me away by watching him piss into a glass and made himself a shot of himself. Might as well call it the "Dynamite Essence.” And the really freaky thing about it is that Juan Manuel Marquez never batted an eyelid when he gulped down his own "energy drink." No signs of gross reactions at all.

Marquez justified his action by stating that bladder juice contains proteins and nutrients. I say so does protein shakes and food supplements.

I still do not know how to react. Perhaps if he wins against Mayweather, I might consider making a potion made of my own spleen.

My Thoughts on Oscar Larios

Kenneth Ragpala — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:55:30 -0400

In his whole career, Manny Pacquiao battled two Oscars and scored a victory over each. One is considered a living legend of the sport while the other was an underrated warrior. It was the latter who gave Pacquiao a tough fight that went the distance.

Personally, I never heard of Oscar Larios until he took on then super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao in July 2006.

Nicknamed Chololo, Larios has a very unique appeal that even Filipino fans come to appreciate. The two-time division champion is a class act and a friendly chump when not wearing his gloves.

My admiration for Larios grew as his fight with Pacquiao blazed on. With two fighters getting it on and pouring out everything they had since the opening bell, I was getting my money’s worth.

It was all action right from the start and even if I was rooting for Pacquiao, I would not mind a Larios victory. Of course, Pacquiao scored two knockdowns and was visibly superb in the technical aspects of the sport.

The kind of punishment Larios took from Pacquiao was so brutal that any ordinary fighter would have wilted. Not Larios. He stood there, squaring Pacquiao and was taking some to give some. That kind of a boxer is a rarity. A legend of the same name quit on his stool, but not Larios. This guy is no quitter.

He won’t be in the Hall of Fame. But for hardcore boxing fans like myself, we will always know that once there was an Oscar who slugged it out with Pacquiao and did more than survive the rounds—he earned the respect and admiration of millions.

After the Pacquiao fight, Larios moved on and sought battles. But it was a medical battle that finally made a dent on his career. In July 2007, Larios was diagnosed with minor subdural hematoma, a bleeding in the brain, after he fought against Jorge Linares.

Suspended in the US due to his medical condition, Larios picked his fights outside United States. His last fight ended in a loss—a rematch with Takahiro Aoh. Their first encounter ended with Larios as the victor.

Oscar “Chololo” Larios retired with a record of 63 wins, seven losses, one draw, and 39 wins by way of knockout. He reigned as WBC champion of the super bantamweight and the featherweight divisions.

Enjoy your retirement, Oscar.

Exit The Winter Soldier

Kenneth Ragpala — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:58:47 -0400

No, it’s not about the hero from the comics. It’s about a boxer who is in the twilight of his career and how he will not top it all off in a grand, spectacular fashion.

To borrow a line from the Rocky Balboa movie, “every fighter has one great fight left in him.” Shane Mosley’s last one great fight is with Manny Pacquiao, hands down.

The fight is so obvious that it seems it has been written in stone, until some promoter decided to cover it with cement and replaced it with a “Pacquiao-Cotto” ruckus.

No doubt a fight with Cotto will be competitive. But if you’re talking about a fight of near epic proportions, it has to be Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao meeting in the squared circle, not Miguel Cotto nor Floyd Mayweather, Jr., nor Juan Manuel Marquez.

Now that Pacquiao-Cotto is nearly a done deal, but the Winter Soldier has nothing left to do, no more to face, except relish his last win over a cheat who would have used rock-hard wraps against him if not for the watchful eye of his trainer.

But is this what most fight fans want?

Arguably, there are lots of boxing fans out there clamoring for Pacquiao to pick Cotto, declaring that Mosley is the best fight for the Pacman. Roach has said once Mosley is a hard fight for Pac, should they meet, and that he does not want his ward to be in any more wars.

Does a Pacquiao-Mosley fight have what it takes to become another war? Debatably, yes.

But the sad reality is that we will never know, as chances for a fight between Pacquiao and Mosley dims as another day passes. Sugar is pushing 38 and Pacman will run for a political position in his native Philippines in early 2010.

If that’s the case, then Mosley is very much on his way into the sunset, with one more great fight left unfought.

The 10 Most Memorable Knockouts by Uppercuts in Boxing History

Kenneth Ragpala — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:25:57 -0400

(Uppercut – noun, boxing; a short, swinging blow directed upward, as to the chin.)

One of the most devastating punches of the sport, the uppercut is usually used to wear the opponent down and set him up for the big finish.

But when executed perfectly by the right hands, an uppercut could mean the end of the fight for the boxer on the receiving end.

Perhaps the best attribute of the said punch is its unpredictability and suddenness. As legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward puts it, “punches that you don’t see coming, hurt you the most.”

The uppercut, when performed brilliantly, does not announce its bad intentions on the way. It kicks the door open.

These are the 10 All-Time Memorable Knockouts via the uppercut.

10. Nonito Donaire Jr. vs. Raul Martinez – April 19, 2009

In his third defense of the IBF crown, flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. outclassed then the undefeated Raul Martinez throughout the duration of the fight.

Donaire decked the Mexican challenger twice in the first round, once in the second, and finally ending the bout with a quick, left uppercut in the fourth.

What makes it memorable:

The way Martinez landed after he caught the uppercut straight in the face was a spectacle of beauty. He staggered from the middle of the ring and fell into the corner, butt-first.

9. David Tua vs. Maurice Wheeler – Nov. 11, 2006

Maurice Wheeler was winning the scorecards in a very uneventful 10-round fight when David Tua, a man known for devastating knockouts, launched a left uppercut to Wheeler’s stomach in the seventh round.

Tua looked slow all night with Wheeler picking him apart with jabs, but the gut-wrenching uppercut was all he needed.

What makes it memorable:

The fight was so bad, so slow, and did not pack any action from start to finish. It was so terrible it lingers.

8. Manny Pacquiao vs. Fashan 3K Battery – Dec. 11, 2004

Defending IBF Intercontinental featherweight champ Manny Pacquiao made short work of Thailand’s Fashan 3K Battery. Pacquiao dropped his challenger four times: once in rounds two and three and twice in round four. The final knockdown was a sneaky left uppercut that came in after Pacquiao faked a right cross.

What makes it memorable:

It was a technical masterpiece.

Also, Pacquiao lifted the Thai off his feet with that left uppercut; a rare feat in the lower weight classes and a clear demonstration of Pacquiao’s raw power.

7. Roy Jones, Jr. vs. Vinnie Pazienza – June 24, 1995

IBF Super Middleweight champ Roy Jones, Jr. dispatched former two-time champion Vinnie Pazienza in the sixth with a six-punch flurry Jones initiated and ended with a left uppercut.

What makes it memorable:

Jones was on the run when he quickly delivered the final six punches of the fight in this order: left uppercut, left hook, left hook, right hook, right uppercut, left uppercut.

6. Earnie Shavers vs. Ken Norton – March 23, 1979

Despite Norton’s tight defense, Shavers eventually wore him down and knocked him down twice in the fight. The final knockdown came moments after the first, with Shavers whipping a vicious right uppercut to Norton’s face. All this within the first round.

What makes it memorable:

Two old guys going at it makes it memorable. Shavers and Norton were 34 and 36, respectively, at the time of the bout.

An old guy unloading such an uppercut makes it a legend.

5. Gerry Cooney vs. Ken Norton – May 11, 1981

In a title eliminator bout that would have the winner face Larry Holmes, Cooney finished a washed-up Norton in 54 seconds with a thunderous barrage of uppercuts.

What makes it memorable:

Cooney battering a sitting Norton with uppercuts was just merciless. Norton retired after suffering such beating.

4. Earnie Shavers vs. Jimmy Ellis – June 18, 1973

Former heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis started out strong and managed to stun and stagger Shavers into a corner and gave the latter a beating. Moments later, Shavers unleashed a right uppercut to Ellis’ face, knocking him out in the process.

What makes it memorable:

Ellis was bent on ending the fight in the first round, but a hard-punching Shavers turned the tide with one single punch.

3. George Foreman vs. Joe Frazier – Jan. 22, 1973

Foreman was in complete domination in this bout, decking Frazier a total of six times in a matter of two rounds and finishing him in the second with a right uppercut.

What makes it memorable:

Frazier was lifted off his feet and landed awkwardly after Foreman delivered that finishing right uppercut.

2. Ray Mercer vs. Francesco Damiani – Jan. 12, 1991

Defending WBO heavyweight champion Damiani was clearly taking Mercer to school, outboxing the challenger right from the start.

But late in the ninth round, Mercer conjured a crushing left uppercut to Damiani’s face, ending the night for the Italian champion.

What makes it memorable:

Mercer’s uppercut was so devastating it broke Damiani’s nose. Blood was streaking from Damiani’s nose as he was counted out by the referee.

1. Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Louis – Oct. 26, 1951

Marciano finished the Brown Bomber in eighth round, knocking Louis out of the ring. Although the finishing punch was a right cross, it was two quick left uppercuts from Marciano that ended the fight.

What makes it memorable:

It was Joe Louis’ last fight as a professional boxer.

Cotto's Questionable Win Dims Chances for a Fight with Pacquiao

Kenneth Ragpala — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:46:41 -0400

It is no secret that Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum wants to stage a boxing showdown between WBO welterweight champ Miguel Cotto and IBO junior welterweight titlist and current P4P top dog Manny Pacquiao.

Both Arum and Pacquiao declared that who will Pacquiao face next hangs on the aftermath of the June 13 title bout between champion Cotto and contender Joshua Clottey.

But after an inconclusive win, does Cotto deserve a shot at Pacquiao?

The answer is a resounding yes. But there’s a catch for Cotto—take a number and fall in line.

Cotto was superb against Clottey. His aggressiveness was very pronounced that he managed to drop Clottey with a jab.

However, Clottey did turn the tables and probably did enough to win the fight, except that two judges scored the bout for Cotto.

The close see-saw battle between the Puerto Rican and the Ghana native was an instant classic. But such performance from Cotto lacked in luster that would generate enough buzz and clamor for him to face the Pacman.

As of this moment, Shane Mosley is the boxer to beat for Pacquiao, should the Pacman opt to have the fight on October 17 as planned.

And Mosley is a good choice, too.

He is the number one welterweight boxer of the world and an A-lister in the top P4P lists. His last outing ended in a very impressive and convincing victory over Mexico’s Antonio Margarito. And to cap it all off, Mosley is a “dangerous fight” for Pacquiao, as Freddie Roach mentioned.

If Cotto wants a date with Pacman, a fight with the winner of the Mayweather-Marquez bout should be made and Cotto must deliver the goods this time.

Miguel Cotto Victory Over Joshua Clottey Smudged with Controversy

Kenneth Ragpala — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:06:27 -0400

The fight for the WBO Welterweight Championship has ended, but not as I expected. I said it would be a split decision victory for Clottey; it went to the other guy instead.

In my previous article, I wrote that Miguel Cotto, whose record now stands at 34-1, would lose the advantage if he failed to knock Joshua Clottey out in the earlier rounds. But, as it turns out, Cotto did send Clottey to the mat via a jab in the first round.

Clottey, who now drops to 34-3, did assert himself in the middle rounds, particularly in the fifth after Cotto got cut in his left eyebrow due to an accidental headbutt.

It was a good fight, but not the one you would have expected from the hype the players and the promoters had built around it.

Most of the fans expected a rain of straights and hooks, but instead they got a splendid display of boxing defense from both fighters throughout the fight.

The earlier rounds were Cotto’s. Then a shift in momentum saw Clottey coming back to life and into the fight. It was indeed a close fight—so close it could have gone either way.

The scorecards seemed to be the focal point in the fight and will serve as a possible source for another boxing controversy.

Judge John McKaie gave the fight to Cotto, 115-112, while Tom Miller saw Clottey winning the fight 114-113. Judge Don Trella scored the bout for Cotto, with a strangely whopping 116-111.

Can anyone explain how the last judge’s score came to be?

Even the media men present in the fight find the score “suspicious.” Clottey claims he was robbed of the victory and demanded a rematch immediately afterwards. He exclaimed that he was chasing Cotto all night long and that the fight should have been his.

A rematch may be deemed necessary, since Cotto’s win over the Ghana native was inconclusive, but regardless of future bouts, tonight is a happy night for Cotto, his team, and his fellow Puerto Ricans.

Cotto Vs Clottey Pre-Fight Analysis

Kenneth Ragpala — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:57:08 -0400

One more day and it's Cotto against Clottey, or Clottey against Cotto.

However you place their names, everybody is just excited to see who can beat the crap out of the other and probably win a date to their biggest fight yet—a bout with the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

But before we even delve with Cotto-Pacquiao or Clottey-Pacquiao, let’s see what these guys can deliver on the night of the fight.

Miguel Cotto boasts of an almost pristine record of 33-1, with 27 victories coming by way of knockout. The only lone defeat in his standings came from Mexico’s Antonio Margarito, which became a point of controversy when it was discovered that Margarito’s hand wraps were coated with plaster of Paris moments before his bout with Shane Mosley.

The Puerto Rico native has hand speed and punching accuracy in his resume. These are his essentials come fight night against Clottey.

He can also conjure vicious body shots and fast combinations, which he used extensively in his last inning against Michael Jennings.

That said, Cotto is also vulnerable to powerful punches to the chin, as evident in his earlier fights. While he is good at defense, Cotto is hittable, and his offensive style makes him more open to power shots.

Joshua Clottey, however, is no pushover. He has garnered a 35-2 record and has never been stopped. His first loss was due to disqualification while the second was via a unanimous decision favoring Antonio Margarito.

While Clottey packs power in both hands, Cotto is still the harder hitter of the two.

But what makes Clottey a dangerous opponent is his ability to take hard punches and still fight back.

He also has the stamina to go the distance.

As an observer, I believe Cotto will own the earlier rounds with sheer aggressiveness, but Clottey will assert himself in the middle rounds and dictate the pace.

Most boxing experts say Cotto’s chances are high, but I disagree. If Clottey can hold his own against Cotto’s attacks, the tides will slowly roll to Clottey’s favor.

A knockout for Cotto is a possibility, but highly unlikely.

Verdict: Clottey by split decision.