Boxing News : MaxBoxing.com's Month-in-Review: July 2002

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This past month proved once again that making great fights isn't dependent on having world titles attached to them or paying high-profile fighters big money. The formula for making a memorable bout is an inexact science.

It was proven once again by the likes of Elvir Muriqui and Sammy Ahmad, who, despite making just a fraction of what Vernon Forrest and Shane Mosley took in and not fighting for a world title belt like John Ruiz and Kirk Johnson, put on the best show of the past month.

It proves once again, that the biggest names, often times don't make the best fights.

FIGHT OF THE MONTH: Kosovo Kid Gets of the Canvas (July 23rd)

Up until his bout with tough Philadelphian Sammy Ahmad, Elvir Muriqui was best known for his family's fight for freedom in Kosovo and for being trained by Teddy Atlas.

Well, after getting off the canvas four times in the first two rounds to stop Ahmad in the third, Muriqui should now be known as a tough-as-nails light heavyweight with a heart as big as Yugoslavia. Sure, he poses after he lands a punch and pulls back out straight defensively, but Atlas can work on that. What can't be taught is the fortitude he showed on this night.

On that same night, veteran Aaron Davis overcame a shaky beginning to gut out a ten-round decision over Ross Thompson in a ten round super middleweight tilt.

CAN'T SEE THROUGH THE FORREST: Vernon Does it Again (July 20th)

Perhaps it's Vernon Forrest's style. Maybe it's his 6-foot-1 stature, or his jab, but it's clear that Forrest, the reigning WBC welterweight titlist, has Shane Mosley's number.

He wasn't nearly as dominant as their first matchup in January. But Forrest was able to neutralize the hurried offensive attack of Mosley and control the action with his jab and a few well-placed right hands.

Vernon, meet Iran Barkley and Junior Jones. Shane, meet Thomas Hearns and Marco Antonio Barrera.

On that undercard, top rated Antonio Tarver put it all on the line against Eric Harding and his gamble paid off when he gained revenge on Harding by stopping him in five rounds. Harding was dominating early until running into a counter-left hand from Tarver. While Harding was Philly-tough, his chin and legs would never recover.

NOT-SO-SUPER: Judah Makes His Return (July 13th)

The last time we saw Zab Judah, he was inciting a riot after Jay Nady would halt his bout against Kostya Tszyu in the second round, after he was blasted to the canvas by a Tszyu right-hand.

>From the looks of it, Tszyu's big shot is still having an effect on Judah as he looked a bit gun-shy against the game Omar Weis. While Judah did enough in the late rounds to get the verdict, he was a bit reluctant to mix it up and yet, still got hit with right hands on a regular basis. Will he ever be the same?

Prospects Malik Scott and Rocky Juarez notched victories underneath Judah-Weis, with Juarez, a featherweight, looking particularly impressive.

LOW BLOWS: Ruiz Retains His Crown (July 27th)

You gotta give it John Ruiz, somehow, some way he finds a way to win. Despite being a 3-1 underdog against his mandatory challenger Kirk Johnson, Ruiz would sacrifice his groin and keep his WBA belt after taking his fourth low blow from the Canadian.

No, it wasn't impressive, but you can't argue with the result.

While Ruiz-Johnson was grueling to watch, it was IBF bantamweight champion Tim Austin who put on quite an impressive show in stopping the world-class Adan Vargas in ten rounds. It was a competitive back-and-forth battle early on, with Austin's class taking over late. Also WBA super middleweight titlist Byron Mitchell kept his title in a four-round slugfest against Julio Cesar Green.

ETIENNE AND BOTHA IN A BARROOM BRAWL: A Call of the Wild, Indeed (July 27th)

While Ruiz and Johnson were boring a national audience to death, Clifford Etienne and Frans Botha were putting on a sloppy, yet exciting, slugfest that had both men hitting the deck (even after the bell), and sparking a near fight in the center of the ring between Les Bonano (Etienne's promoter) and Sterling McPherson (Botha's manager) after the eighth round. This fight wasn't the most skilled, but it was entertaining to watch.

TOUCH OF SLEEP: Williamson KOs T-Rex (July 26th)

DaVarryl Williamson, despite having an impressive amateur career, has been basically ignored as a prospect despite racking up a record of 16-1. It'll be hard to ignore him after his stopping of the huge Corey Sanders in five rounds in West Virginia.

Williamson would overcome some shaky moments in round three to out-gut and out-fight Sanders the rest of the way. Williamson may have a shaky set of whiskers, but he does carry a good punch and he proved on this night, a stout heart.

Prospects Paolo Vidoz and Paul Malignaggi notched wins, while Brian Viloria was looking very impressive until his bout against Alberto Rossel was halted by an accidental clash of heads in round three.

THIS AND THAT

On July 2nd, jr. welterweight Sharmba Mitchell out-boxed Frank Houghtaling over ten rounds... Michael Grant would stop Thomas Williams in three rounds in an 'exhibition' in Green Bay on the 5th... On July 9th, jr. welterweight prospect Juan Diaz downed Michael Davis in a ten rounder and featherweights Emanuel Lucero and Angel Chacon banged heads in round one and never got started... On the 12th, bantamweight Rafael Marquez would stop the game Jorge Otero in six... On the 16th, Vivian Harris would out-box Ubaldo Hernandez over 12 and super middleweight prospect Anthony Hanshaw would go the ten-round route and hold on for the win against E.T. Whitaker... On July 19th, Emanuel Augustus would stop Wilfredo Vilches on cuts in eight... On the same night, Freddie Cuevas would knockout veteran Wilfredo Rivera in seven... On the 21st, Montell Griffin would get back into the 175-pound picture with a 12-round win over Derrick Harmon. On the same card jr. welterweight Steve Quinonez would win by outboxing Jose Luis Juarez over seven rounds before the bout was stopped due to a clash of heads... On the 25th, middleweight Robert Allen became the IBF mandatory challenger by winning a technical decision over Tito Mendoza in six and Robert Frazier wins a ten-round decision over Curtis Barker... On the 27th, lightweight Lamar Murphy bludgeons Dairo Esalas in eight and super middleweight Yusef Mack KOs John McKinney in four... And finally, on the 27th, Larry Holmes would jab his way to a ten-round verdict over Butterbean.

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