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Giving Thanks
By Steve Kim (November 28, 2002)
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Today is Thanksgiving, which means that the holiday season is now upon us. A time to go shopping, fight traffic, stand in long lines and add to credit card debt.
But before we get lost in our own gluttony of feasting on our various Thanksgiving meals and the mind-numbing process that is Christmas, we should take just a moment to give thanks to those in boxing who truly deserve a round of applause- or at least a drumstick.
Those who have made boxing a better game, or more importantly, made my job much easier and enjoyable. People or things who remind us of why we follow 'the sweet science.'
* Chris Byrd getting another title shot against Evander Holyfield.
Byrd is about as nice a guy as you'll find in the business. This southpaw David has been slinging stones against the Goliaths of the heavyweight division since turning pro in the early 90's. It's not only his size that makes his achievement notable but the fact that he was a super middleweight as an amateur. People make a big deal about Roy Jones' supposed move up to heavyweight - well, hate to break it to you Jones fans, but Byrd has been there and done that for the better part of a decade.
And unlike Jones, Byrd isn't just hand-picking the worst possible title holder. Byrd has gone up against the likes of the Klitschkos( on enemy turf no less), Ike Ibeabuchi and David Tua. He hasn't beat them all, but outside of getting stopped by the now-impeached 'President', he hasn't gotten blown out against anyone else either. And did anyone really think that Emanuel Steward was going to allow Lennox Lewis in the ring with the awkward Byrd?
But that isn't to say that Byrd is particularly pleasing to the eye. He isn't, but there's something to be said about a guy who's been persistent in the face of such great odds.
And having Byrd getting another title shot should appease those who appreciate the Las Vegan and those that disdain him. If he beats 'The Real Deal', his advocates can say, 'See, we told you so' and if he should come up short, his detractors can say,' See, we told you so.' If he loses, he's just a novelty in the heavyweight division. If he wins, well, then even his greatest critics (uh, yeah, that's you Larry Merchant) would have to give him some respect.
* Teddy Atlas and Vernon Forrest's acts of goodwill.
In an age where it's all about 'me', these two and their charitable causes should be commended. Atlas just recently held his sixth annual dinner, which not only honors his father's memory but helps those in distress with immediate aid. The beauty of the
Theodore Atlas Foundation is that it is short on red-tape and quick with a helping hand.
Forrest, best known for going two-for-two against Shane Mosley, has been fighting the good fight for years with his 'Destiny's Children' program - which aids those who are mentally handicapped in acquiring real life skills and in acclimating themselves to the outside world.
They don't do it for the accolades, they've done it for years to help others. That's championship stuff.
* Telefutura's 'Solo Boxeo' series.
While most boxing fans tune into ESPN2's 'Friday Night Fights' series on a weekly basis, those who don't tune into Telefutura's weekly boxing series are missing out.
Just this year I've seen bright young Latin prospects like Miguel Cotto, Jeffrey Resto, Rocky Juarez and Juan Diaz, along with world class fighters like Jesus Chavez and Juan Lazcano. Yes, most of the fights are predictable in nature but they also had the barnburner which was the strawweight battle between Roberto Leyva and Miguel Barrera - which was only surpassed by the first Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti slugfest.
Now I truly regret not paying any attention whatsoever in my Spanish classes at Montebello High. Seriously, the only thing I can say in Spanish is,' No habla Espanol'.
* Lennox Lewis knocking out Mike Tyson
Yeah, I realize that for the business of boxing it may have been beneficial to have 'Iron' Mike rule the heavyweight landscape, but the upside is that most of us who do this for a living or go on any boxing chat rooms or message boards are no longer subjected
to the madness that is the rhetoric of the Tyson cult.
Seriously, these folks were about as deranged as those poor, misguided souls who chugged Jim Jones' Kool-Aid back in the day. They made Raider fans look like the crowd at Wimbledon. No longer do I have to be subjected to e-mails that would read something like this:
" Yo, yo, yo, word up. You and yo ho, Lennox Luise are gonna get knocked out by Tyson. BROOKLYN STYLE!!! Y'know what I'm sayin? Lewis is a chump and got no heart and Mike's gonna take his place back among the top of the game. All y'all Tyson haters gotta bow down. Word."
No, and that wasn't from Zab Judah but probably some kid in the suburbs who fell for the mystique of Tyson and his shenanigans. Well, on the night of June 8th, right around, oh, I'd say the start of the second round, reality set in and peace was restored throughout boxing cyberspace. They finally figured out what most of us had known a long time ago. Like the high-top Gumby fade, Cavarrici pants and The New Kids on the Block, this was no longer 1988 and their times had passed.
Of course we'll still get the fringe minority- which always seems to scream the loudest- who will still e-mail about Tyson and explain that he was drugged prior to the fight with Lewis and had an off-night. Ok, guys, whatever you say.
* Having Oscar De La Hoya back as a player.
I know this will infuriate some of you, but hey, the game and the business of boxing is better off with him around. Even if he only fights once a year.
Yeah, yeah, I know he can be as disingenuous as a politician and phony as a three dollar bill but he does bring interest to the sport that no other boxer can duplicate. Just look at the revenue he produces and his pay-per-view numbers. Who knows if he's an all-time great, but there's no doubting his economic prowess.
Anytime he fights, regardless of who it is, it's a big night for boxing. His latest fight against Fernando Vargas bore that out. Being there that night at the Mandalay Bay, you could just feel the electricity - a feeling I hadn't had since I saw Felix Trinidad and his loyal followers rock Madison Square Garden against William Joppy.
And you have to say this for 'The Golden Boy'; in the last four years, he's taken on every big name threat out there and done pretty damn good if you ask me. No, he hasn't won all those fights, but unlike some others, he takes on these challenges instead of hiding behind mis-mandatories.
* Boxing in December
Usually the sport comes to a standstill after Thanksgiving and doesn't come back to life until after the Super Bowl, but not this year.
On December 7th, we have what I think is quite possibly HBO's best double-header of the year when Wladmir Klitschko takes on Jameel McCline and Floyd Mayweather rematches Jose Luis Castillo for the WBC lightweight title.
For the record, I like the experience of Klitschko and I think Castillo will give Mayweather all he can handle once again. That first bout was no fluke. In fact, Castillo could be the one that comes in there with a bit more confidence based on how well he did the last half of the fight in April.
Then a week later on December 14th, the aforementioned Byrd takes on Holyfield, which should be a ratings blockbuster for HBO - remember how well HBO did ratings wise when they aired the God-awful third bout between Holyfield and John Ruiz - this fight should be a cut above that one.
It may not be the greatest fight ( after all, Byrd is involved) but it is an intriguing clash of styles and Holyfield still has some marquee value.
Boxing and egg nog, a perfect combination, if you ask me.
* The mouths of Norman Stone and Floyd Mayweather Sr.
From my vantage point I just love guys that speak first and then think later. Guys that shoot straight from the hip and damn the consequences. Well, that's what we have in Stone and Mayweather, who don't know anything about political correctness.
These guys are a reporter's dream because they don't hold back and they aren't afraid to ruffle a few feathers or tear someone a new one. And they'll do it with a smile on their face.
Stone will get into it with anyone who dares criticize his guy, John Ruiz ( which means just about everyone). Sometimes he can get tasteless and crass, but you have to appreciate the passion. Hey, this guy even got into it with Kirk Johnson at the WBA convention- some would even say he showed more heart than Johnson did when he fought Ruiz. 'Stoney' truly is one of a kind.
Mayweather is cut from the same cloth. He will say whatever is on his mind and he loves to talk about his favorite subject time and time again - himself. And he's good at it. While no Rakim or even Muhammad Ali, he isn't too shabby at reciting poetry. And get this, judging by his work with De La Hoya, it looks like the guy can train a bit too.
His brewing rivalry with Emanuel Steward ( who he's not afraid to rip at anytime) is also the stuff that great columns and articles are made of.
Keep the good stuff coming guys. It's much appreciated.
OOPS
In my last '15 Rounds' column I mentioned that in one of the most recent editions of 'the Ring' that a segment on the all-time great action fighters had omitted Arturo Gatti.
Well, shame on me for not reading the introduction to that piece as it clearly stated that active fighters would not be included.
I will now go to the neutral corner and penalize myself a point. My bad.
ST. JOHN VS. MARTIN
On Tuesdays edition of 'the Best Damn Sports Show', Christy Martin and Mia St. John were both in studio to promote their upcoming pay-per-view slaughter.
And it nearly turned into an early cat-fight as both women disparaged each other throughout the segment. It got real heated when Martin questioned the Mexican-ness (yeah, I just made that up) of St. John, a quip that had both combatants up on their feet ready to go at it. But luckily Tom Arnold was there to stop those shenanigans. I guess being married to Roseanne Barr at one time gives you an idea of how to handle hostile females. Of course, St. John responded with a crack about Martin and trailer parks.
But Martin has a point. I distinctly remember how St. John started using 'Rosales' on the end of her name to market herself during her run with Top Rank. Seems to me she was a Latin of convenience to promote herself to that demographic.
First Larry Holmes dispatched Butterbean (another Top Rank novelty act of the past) earlier this year. Now, it looks like 'The Coal Miner's Daughter's turn.
This looks like a horrendous mismatch. I thought televised executions were illegal?
ROLE REVERSAL
On Sunday afternoon Olympic teammates Brian Viloria and Clarence Vinson were the co-headliners on ESPN's special Sunday afternoon boxing telecast.
Vinson would pound out a solid 10 round decision over Indelfonso Martinez that showed his solid all-around skills, while Viloria was fortunate to escape with his NABF flyweight crown against Alberto Rossel. In the last two bouts, Viloria has struggled with movement and getting off a consistent offensive attack. As he moves along, Viloria can expect more of that same style that troubled him against Rossel, who moved and picked his shots well.
It was definitely a rise up in stock for Vinson and a downturn for Viloria.
FINALLY
To everyone out there( even Tyson fans), have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
For Questions or Comments
E-Mail Steve Kim at k9kim@maxboxing.com
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