Boxing: Early January, 2009

[H2O Man]

FRIDAY - at Primm, Nevada (ESPN2) - 10 rounds, heavyweights Odlanier Solis (12-0, 8 KOs) vs. Kevin Burnett (13-1-1, 8 KOs); 10 rounds, featherweights: Yuriorkis Gamboa (12-0, 10 KOs) vs. Roger Gonzalez (27-2, 18 KOs).

Saturday - Sunday: USA Boxing Region 1 Silver Gloves Semi-Finals and Finals; Oneonta, NY.

2009 promises to be a good year for the sport of boxing. One of the more interesting changes will be the televised coverage provided by ESPN. Although they will not be featuring Wednesday Night Fights, there is going to be an appreciable step up in the quality of fights featured on Friday Night Fights. This is a result of Teddy Atlas’s efforts, and I think that boxing fans will be pleased with the results.

This season starts with a card that includes both heavyweights and featherweights. Let’s take a look at both of these matches.

The heavyweight division has held little attraction for American fans in recent years. The majority of the top fighters in the division are from Europe, as are a number of the top prospects. Because their fights are not televised in this country, relatively few sports fans here realize that there are some very talented heavyweights moving up in the ranks. Odlanier Solis, who was born in Cuba but now lives in Germany, is a good example.

Solis stands just over 6’ 1", and weighs about 250 pounds. He has been moving up in the ranks, by defeating some decent competition, including wins over a couple of American journeymen. Because of his build – which is similar to that of Samuel Peter – one question is how he can do against fighters who are significantly taller than he is.

He was scheduled to fight Franklin Lawrence (11-1-2, 6 KOs), but is now set to face Kevin Burnett (13-1-1, 8 KOs). Burnett is 6’ 7" tall, and should weigh about 260 pounds (he has fought at 248 to 297 pounds, suggesting that his preparation for fights isn’t always the best). He has fought against weak competition; only 7 of his 15 opponents have gone into the ring with "winning" records.

Thus, Solis should win the fight, and get some more experience against a taller opponent. Burnett has only gone over 6 rounds once, and that was an 8 round fight in which he was decked in the final moments. Although Solis is not a huge puncher, it will be interesting to see if he can end the fight early.

The main event features Yuriokis Gamboa, who I think is the best young fighter in the sport today. Born in Cuba, Gamboa now lives in Florida. He was an outstanding amateur star, and has been moving up the featherweight ranks since turning professional in April of 2007. Perhaps the biggest question that has been raised is if he is moving ahead too quickly, as there is already talk of having him fight for a world title this summer.

The transition from the amateurs to professional ranks can be difficult. However, there are some fighters who appear to transition easily, and who then move up and are in the top of their division within about 20 fights. The potential problem with that is the young fighter frequently retains one or two of the flaws they had as amateurs, and these almost always are in their defensive skills. It is much easier to get away with what might be considered small flaws in the amateur and lower professional ranks, than when competing against the elite professional boxers. A recent boxing magazine noted the example of Fernando Vargas, who after a solid amateur career was moved up quickly, and fought for a world title after being a pro for about 2.5 years. Felix Trinidad exposed his defensive flaws.

When you reach the top, it is hard to get the practice in the ring that top trainers know is needed to correct defensive flaws. Gamboa has been decked three times in his pro career, including twice in his four most recent fights. It seems possible that the better the competition he faces, the more they will focus on the flaw that results in his finding himself on the canvas. Better to correct that now, than to challenge for a title, and be in the top of the division too soon.

There are going to be good amateur fights in Oneonta, NY over the weekend. The "Region 1" Silver Gloves features the best amateur boxers in the "15 and under" age group in the northeast. The winners go on to the nationals, to meet the best fighters in the other three regions. For the past two years, I’ve been impressed with a youngster from NYC who, I believe, will be the best US amateur fighter we’ve sent to the Olympics in some time, when he comes of age. I should be getting some good photos, and will provide coverage here next week.

[Wetzelbill]

1. With regards to getting on top of a division too soon...

Or at least getting a title too soon, I always felt that Trinidad ruined both Vargas and David Reid. Maybe not just by exposing flaws, the beatings might have been just as bad in hurting those guys too.

I was always interested in looking at the career trajectories of people like Davey Moore and Wilfred Benitez too as they won titles after only a few fights (Moore) and at a young age (Benitez).

One person I felt the media and handlers tried to make a big deal out of a little too fast in recent years was Francisco Bojado. Obviously a talented kid, but early on he was heavily hyped and lost to Rubio, a guy he avenged the loss too, but who isn't a really top level fighter. I hate to see development quelled by trying to go too much too fast or getting too much attention too fast, you know?

I also think Naseem Hamed fits into that a little too, he has obvious physical tools, reflexes and power, but plenty of flaws. I am not sure how good he ever was really, because once he was beaten and somewhat exposed, by Barrera, he never really got back into fighting again. Now he's much older and heavier, I doubt if he ever did comeback he'd have improved much on his flaws if at all. His physical gifts probably are shot anyway. I know this, Hamed and I are about the same age and size - I am a few inches shorter and naturally a little lighter - and we both a good 50 pounds out of condition, and I almost came back to compete a few years ago and just getting back into shape is a freaking chore. I don't think he'll ever fight again personally, too much incentive not to really. Especially if your body can't do the same things it once did and those workouts hurt in a way they never used to.

[RagAss]

2. Your thoughts on Moore and Benitez bring back old memories of the late Mando Ramos..

World Lightweight Champ at 19 and finished at 24.

Rest in Peace Mando.

[H2O Man]

3. Ramos, Benitez and Moore

are all good examples of fighters who were brought to the top too early. In each case, they had the potential to be included in the elite class of "all-time greats." Instead, each is listed on the records of others that are in that elite group, and that includes some victories and loses in these fights.

Ramos was so good that he learned he could get by on toughness alone in most fights. He wasn't big on training, and he loved the "high life." He is an example of a young lion that didn't learn the defensive skills needed to remain at the top.

Benitez is an exception, in the sense that he had highly developed defensive skills that allowed him, as a young teen, to engage in "gym wars" against some of the best in his country. His father trained Esteban DeJesus, who gave the great Roberto Duran his first professional loss, on 11-17-72. Benitez was 14 at the time, and could already beat most men his size.(If you look at Benitez's fight against Duran, you can see that he had studied Roberto for many years, and understood exactly how to beat him.) The combination of his father pushing him too quickly (perhaps in part due to DeJesus's failure to live up to his potential), along with love of life in the fast lane, and contempt for other fighters' skills, resulted in his rarely preparing for fights after he won his first title. There are several cases of his investing three or four days in the gym for a fight against a top contender.

After I had retired from the amateurs, a promoter pressured me to "come back" and fight Moore. No, thank you. I had a lot of respect for him, when he was one of the best amateur fighters in the country. His professional career was not handled well. The rush to a title, and then the foolish belief that Duran was washed up, were his manager's errors, but they cost the fighter. Their fight should be on the level of the first Leonard-Duran fight in boxing history, but it will be overlooked.

I'd also add Zab Judah to the list. His best fight was when, as a youngster, he beat Mickey Ward. All the issues of overconfidence, the fast life, failure to train, and a father for a manager, made it where he never really reached his potential.

[RagAss]

4. Thanks H2O Man....great info...

[Wetzelbill]

7. You almost fought Davey Moore!

Would this had been still in the amateurs? He had to have been a holy terror, all young and indestructible. Good lord. :)

I grew up a big fan of Duran so as I child I ran into some info on Dejesus, I knew he died of complications to AIDS. To beat Duran at that age is a great feat.

Zab Judah is a great addition. The lack of work ethic, hurt him too. Look at the difference between Zab and Floyd Mayweather. Zab about matches Floyd in physical tools, but he never worked like Floyd in the gym. It showed. I think it showed in his fight with Tszyu, when he suffered one of the most embarrasing looking KOs ever. If Judah was sharper and honed his skills the way somebody like Mayweather did he would have never pulled straight back like that and gotten tagged. I watch it on youtube from time to time, it sounds like Tszyu hit him with a hammer.

Mike Tyson is probably another one. You could say he had a great career, but I think his mystique carried him for several years. The power was always there, that and the fear, that kept him around. But he had lost his head movement and stopped punching in combos long before Holyfield starched him in their first fight. You could even argue that he was losing some skills already coming into the Douglas fight. He was too immature a person to be that famous that fast. Reminds me of some of those young athletes that turn pro out of college in football/basketball. Too rich, too quick and they can't totally adjust.

[H2O Man]

5. Re: Silver Gloves

Due to a fall on the ice in my driveway, I was not able to attend the Silver Gloves in Oneonta. In fact, I have been unable to do much of anything, but sit in a chair and read. Hell to get old.

There are going to be some other good fight cards in the area in the upcoming months, so I will have a few "ringside reports" in 2009.

[RagAss]

6. Sorry to hear it....Rest up and get well !