Showtime Gains Independence As Torres, Holt Seek Closure By Jake Donovan (July 1, 2008) Photo © German Villasenor Send this page to friend Give us your feedback The United States of America celebrates its 232nd year of Independence this weekend, and It feels like it’s been almost as long since Showtime’s had the pleasure of hosting a boxing telecast without having to worry about counter-programming from HBO. Boxing fans are so blessed this weekend, as Showtime has the place all to itself with a special presentation of ShoBox: The New Generation (Saturday, 11PM ET/PT). The main go has Ricardo Torres and Kendall Holt squaring off in a rematch to their highly controversial encounter ten months ago in Torres’ hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia. This time, the two square off in Las Vegas, Nevada – no stranger to controversy, recently or otherwise - with both fighters looking to put the past behind them and improve on their respective performances last September. For Holt, it was a dream shattered after being well within reach for much of the fight. It was also a lesson learned the hard way about fighting on the road. “I didn't think anything controversial was going to happen,” admits Holt (23-2, 12KO), a statement that can be viewed as his team being overly optimistic, or flat out naïve. “I was just prepared to face Torres. I didn't prepare to face the hostile crowd. I didn't prepare to face a referee who was making a lot of mistakes. I was just prepared to face Torres.” Amidst the hostile environment, Holt managed to hold his own until things fell apart in the fateful 11th round. A sixth round knockdown appeared to permanently turn the tide in what had otherwise been a competitive bout to that point. Holt won the next three rounds before Torres finally fully regained his legs just in time for the later rounds. By that point, Holt built up a lead on two of the three scorecards, with the third judge, from Torres’ hometown, scoring the bout one point in favor of his countryman. The cards went out the window in the 11th, a round where everything else went into the ring, including enough drama and controversy to last a lifetime – or at least the ten months in between the two fights. Torres was informed by his corner that he was down “probably by two or three points” heading into the championship rounds. The Colombian, who owns an alphabet title at junior welterweight, responded in kind, dropping Holt early in the round. Holt recovered and immediately jumped on his bike, using his legs while attempting to regain his senses. Only he had more to avoid than his opponent’s punches. The ring became filled with debris, with the canvas becoming a slick surface due to the excessive liquids hurled its way. A more capable referee would’ve taken control of the situation, and called time while having the ring cleaned up and the commission work with local officials to restore order in the crowd. Unfortunately for the two fighters, they were stuck with Geno Rodriguez, a generally respected referee but who was obviously in way over his head on this particular evening. Action was never halted, with Rodriguez along for the ride as if a passenger on a family road trip. Holt repeatedly slipped on the now drenched canvas, while attempting to avoid the incoming. The danger he was in was acknowledged by the referee, but after the fight, when it was way too late. “It could’ve been slippery enough,” Rodriguez said of the ring to Keith Idec, who was in country covering the fight for Boxingscene.com. “But the action was more important at the time.” Spoken like a true traffic cop. Torres turned up the heat, with a retreating Holt not firing back. The lack of two-way action lasted long enough for Rodriguez to intervene, though it was at that very moment Holt decided to fire back. By then it was too late. The opportunity was lost, as Holt would return to New Jersey with the second loss of his career, one that Torres naturally insists was on the up and up. “I don't remember the first fight being controversial at all,” claims Torres, and with a straight face. “I beat Holt fair and square, and I moved on.” The sanctioning body that claims Torres as its junior welterweight champion was ready to move on as well. An official protest was filed by Team Holt, complete with video and 17 still photos citing several infractions undetected by the referee over the course of the bout. It was all for naught, as no immediate rematch was offered. Ironically, it was Holt who moved on in the ring, returning this past February to win a ten-round decision over divisional trial horse Ben Tackie. The bout was about as thrilling as watching paint dry, but more germane to the point is that Holt was able to put a check in the win column, and get some rounds in the process. Torres has done neither since their fight, as he’s spent the past ten months on the inactive roster. Still, he claims that the rematch comes about simply because it was there. “The opportunity was brought up to fight Holt again. I have no problem with that. If that's what needs to be done right now, that's what needs to be done. “ Holt insists that he knows exactly what needs to be done to right the wrongs committed in the first fight. “I just remember me not being active enough. I believe I was winning the fight. I believe the fight was stopped early. I believe that in this rematch I prepared myself better than I did before. I believe I'm going to be a lot more active in this fight, and I believe this time I'll walk away with a WBO championship.” He believes he’ll do so by fighting smart, sticking to his strengths and, in line with motorists throughout the country, step on the gas pedal only when absolutely necessary. “At times I will pick up action, I will go forward. I'm a sleek counter puncher, so I will follow the game plan, which is to box. I will press the action when I feel it's time.” That style is more in line with the recent version of Kendall Holt, which at times can be frustrating to a viewing audience. But it’s hard to argue with success, which is what Holt enjoyed on a regular basis during his three years in between career losses. Three months after earning ESPN’s Top Play of the Day with a 1st round knockout over Gilberto Reyes in March 2004, Holt wound up on the highlight reel for all of the wrong reasons. He had Thomas Davis down and ready to go in the first round of their ESPN2-televised co-feature before getting caught himself. Holt was dropped, and never recovered, failing to make it out of the round in suffering the first loss of his career. To his credit, the competition wasn’t dumbed down the way you’d expect a prospect to recover. In fact, it remained on the level of Thomas Davis and progressively increased over the next three years, racking up seven straight wins. Chief among them was his off-the-canvas stoppage of then-unbeaten 1996 Olympian David Diaz, who of course would go on to win a title before conceding it to Manny Pacquiao last weekend. That win for Holt came on ShoBox, as did his two other biggest wins of his career, which came in back to back efforts. First it was a virtual shutout of Isaac Hlatshwayo in November 2006, scoring three knockdowns along the way. Five months later, it was a whitewash over highly touted Mike Arnaoutis, in a bout that would earn him the shot at Torres. That he had to go that route in order to get a title shot didn’t bother Holt so much as he believed the man he was fighting for said belt never truly earned his opportunity. Looking back, he realizes it was this assumption that contributed to his not taking the Colombian as seriously as should’ve been the case “What I learned about Torres is that I underestimated him the first time,” Holt admits. “I was a firm believer that he didn't earn his chance to be a champion. He shouldn't have had a chance to fight Miguel Cotto.” It was a bitter pill to swallow at the time for Holt, who volunteered to step in and face Cotto on HBO that night after originally scheduled opponent Gianluca Branco withdrew. Not only did he not get the assignment, but was instead relegated to the non-televised portion of the show. He’s since moved on, instead focusing on a destiny well within his control. “After the fight, I realized I didn't think he earned his chance. He shouldn't have been in the fight for the championship. He shouldn't have won the championship, but now I understand that he's here. So, I have to deal with him being here.” It was that September ’05 evening that initially put Torres (32-1, 28KO) on the map, despite winding up on the wrong end of a 7th round knockout. To date, Torres is still the only prize fighter to score an official knockdown against Cotto, though he suffered four of his own for the lone defeat of his career. Still, it’s been a slow road to glory for the Colombian, who’s only fought four times since then. One was against Mike Arnaoutis for the same title Cotto vacated. Torres was given a puncher’s chance against the talented Greek, but it was Arnaoutis who scored the bout’s lone knockdown, midway through. An assumed Fight of the Year candidate instead developed into a tepid affair capped by suspect scoring. Torres escaped with a split decision many felt should’ve went the other way. That his two biggest wins – versus Arnaoutis and Holt – came under controversial circumstances has many believing the jury is still out. The oddsmakers agree, as Holt enters the fight as the betting favorite, though Torres hardly seems concerned. “The guy that made the odds is not getting in the ring,” he insists. “The people that are betting on the fight are not getting in the ring. I'm going to prove everybody wrong. I'm prepared mentally and physically for this fight. There's nothing written about it here. There are no favorites. There's nothing. We still have to fight.” It’s probably the one area where the two rivals are in agreement. “Being a favorite doesn't really do anything for me or my confidence,” admits Holt. “It really doesn't bother me. Like Torres said, the people making the odds don't have to fight. They don't have to train. They don't have to do anything but guess who they think should win or who they think might win. “At the end of the day, we still have to get in there and fight.” Fight they will this weekend, with nobody more enthusiastic than the event’s promoter, Bob Arum. “If you really love the sport of boxing and want to see another great fight, this is the fight that you'll enjoy,” states the ageless Hall-of-Fame promoter. “It will make your July fourth weekend complete.” And for the first time in almost two months, a weekend where Showtime has the night all to itself. Venue The rematch takes place at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The resort first offered its services to boxing by investing a large sum into the April light heavyweight encounter between Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins. The bout was a financial disappointment, but hasn’t dampened the spirits any of those at Planet Hollywood eager to remain in the boxing business. “They do a marvelous job promoting at Planet Hollywood,” says Bob Arum. “They put everything into it.” Holt experienced the upscale treatment first hand. “My face is on blackjack tables!” But that’s only a small part of what Arum appreciates about doing business with the newest player in town. “It's been a pleasure for us to work with them. There's a love there for boxing with Robert Earl and Mike Mecca. They haven't become jaded like some of the places that put on a lot of these big fights. They're very enthusiastic, and it's been a pleasure for all of us at Top Rank to work with them. I know the fighters are really thrilled with the treatment they've received at Planet Hollywood.” Top Rank also expects to be pleased with the turnout at the gate. “The venue can be made to hold 6,000. We expect between 4,000 and 5,000.” Officials The Nevada State Athletic Commission keeps it in house in naming its officials for the bout. Veteran referee Jay Nady has been tabbed to serve as third man for the bout, with Duane Ford, Burt Clements and Robert Hoyle serving as ringside judges. The irony in expressing concern over a repeat of substandard officiating is that the aforementioned quartet, while solid for the most part, is hardly free from controversy. Duane Ford regularly conducts training seminars for the judge’s portion of the Association of Boxing Commission annual conventions. However, the veteran judge has become better known in recent years for his scorecard in the first bout between Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins three years ago. The debate rages on as to who really won the bout, but one thing very few disagree on, is the fact that Hopkins swept the final four rounds of the bout. Not so, said Ford, who was perhaps the only person in the world who believed Taylor won the 12th and final round. Scoring the round the other (correct) way would’ve resulted in a split decision draw, and Hopkins’ record-breaking middleweight reign lasting at least one more fight. Instead, it brought about a dubious start to the Taylor middleweight era. Burt Clements has served as a ringside official for well over two decades, but his name will forever be synonymous with a single round; the opening frame of the first fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao scored three knockdowns in the round, which under the unified rules of the ABC warrants justification for a 10-6 round, assuming the knocked down fighter survives the round. Clements instead scored the round in accordance with rules from one of the sanctioning bodies that were already rendered obsolete by then, which called for no round to be scored lower than 10-7, no matter how lopsided. Like Ford’s gaffe in Taylor-Hopkins I, the error had a lasting effect on the outcome of the bout. Had the round been scored 10-6, Pacquiao would’ve escaped with a split decision win rather than the draw verdict that was handed down at fight’s end. The one card that jumps out among Robert Hoyle’s resume was his partaking in perhaps the worst robbery of 2007, when three Nevada officials decided that Demetrius Hopkins not only did enough to beat Stevie Forbes, but did so in one-sided fashion. Those in attendance and who watched at home via HBO pay-per-view knew for sure that Forbes handed Hopkins the first professional loss of his career. Not so fast, said Hoyle, Glenn Trowbridge and Dalby Shirley. Hoyle and Trowbridge each had Hopkins winning 10 rounds in a fight most observers believe scoring five in his favor would’ve been generous. On that same night, Nady blew a call in the 7th round of the main event between Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera. Marquez was dominating the round to where he was on the verge of winning 10-8, before getting caught by a right hand at round’s end. Nady was slow to react, and Barrera paid homage to the old adage “protect yourself at all times,” hitting Marquez while he was on the deck. Because he was out of position, Nady not only missed the knockdown, but docked a point from Barrera’s scorecard for the infraction. The error resulted in a three-point swing – rather than Barrera winning the round 10-9, Marquez instead won 10-8 on all three cards. It proved to be moot at night’s end, as Barrera still would’ve lost the fight, but it still added to a strange night of officiating. Still feeling safe in the good ol’ U.S. of A, Kendall? Televised Opener Two months ago, he found a new promoter. Now, Lamont Peterson (24-0, 11KO) finally has an opponent. The undefeated junior welterweight prospect makes his Top Rank debut this weekend, as he faces Rogelio Castaneda in the televised co-feature. Lamont’s debut with the Vegas-based promotional outfit will come nine days after younger brother Anthony made his first appearance under the Top Rank banner. Anthony racked up the 27th win of his career with a virtual shutout of tough Fernando Trejo, but failed to disappoint with his performance. It’s usually the slicker Lamont who is criticized for his lack of entertainment value among those who thirst for blood every time out. He did something about it in his most recent fight, dominating previously unbeaten Antonio Mesquita on Shobox. With many displeased with his brother’s performance, including Anthony himself, look for Lamont Peterson to make a statement this weekend in becoming the latest entrant in a junior welterweight division that never seems to run out of talented fighters. Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. 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