Tyson/Bowe/Lewis/Holyfield: Timing is Everything
Gabriel Montoya: I’m no historian. Over the past few years, as my work as a writer has taken me deeper and deeper into the world of boxing, I’ve brushed up as much as I can and have worked hard to know the history of the sport I have watched one-dimensionally from my TV since I was a child. When you are a kid, you don’t even think about the business dealings, the odd rankings, why fights didn’t happen or did, unless maybe you’re Steve Kim or Thomas Hauser...

Unified Light Flyweight Champion Giovanni Segura Brings Home the Belts
Gabriel Montoya: In the midst of this week’s controversy regarding Top Rank’s latest superfight, a small miracle happened yet was generally overlooked. Light flyweight wunderkind and seemingly ageless Puerto Rican world champion Ivan Calderon

Ronny Rios Brings the Heat at Golden Boy’s “Fight Night Club”
By Gabriel Montoya: In the main event, super bantamweight prospect Ronny Rios, 12-0 (6) scored his sixth KO by dropping Leivi Brea, 18-9-3 (10 KOs) in the fourth with a series of brutal body shots.

Giovanni Segura in Overdrive
By Gabriel Montoya: It’s been a long time since a significant unification match has happened in the light flyweight division. At first recollection, I’d have to go back to that epic battle between Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez and Michael “Little Hands of Stone” Carbajal back in 1993. But wait no longer, fight fans, because here comes not only the best match-up in years at 108 pounds but also what may possibly be a significant chapter...

Arreola Takes a Unanimous Decision Over Quezada
Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): On ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights,” Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola, 29-2 (25), scored a unanimous decision win over Manuel Quezada, 29-6 (18), at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA over 12 rounds in a comeback fight following his loss to Tomasz Adamek in this very building last April. The two Mexican heavyweights traded jabs early, Quezada popping...

Chris Arreola: A Nightmare’s Dream Reborn
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): When I last saw Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola, 28-2 (25), it was April 24, 2010 at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. and he was on the losing end of a majority decision to Tomasz Adamek. Chris seemed a bit in denial of the loss at the time. After all, it was a hard-fought battle where he did have his moments. Even still, he seemed to blame the judges, Adamek and an injured...

Premiere of new Video Game Talk Show: Fighter vs Writer
This Saturday, One Step Productions, in association with moviesmusicmayhem.com, presents the premiere of “Fighter vs. Writer,” an offbeat video game talk show where professional fighters take on Gabriel Montoya, Maxboxing.com writer and co-host of Boxingscene.com’s official radio show http://leave-it-in-the-ring.com, in a battle of skill and will known as “EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4.” The fight will be broadcast live on ustream.com at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/fightervswriter.

Alexander Gets a Pass Against Kotelnik
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): Light welter titleholder Devon Alexander, 21-0 (13), got away with one Saturday night at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri as he was pushed to his limits and outfought by Andriy Kotelnik, 31-4-1 (13), over 12 rounds. Scores were unanimous for Alexander at 116-112 but the fight told a different story...

The First Step is Admitting You Have a Problem
By Gabriel Montoya: A funny thing happened while I covered the press conference for an independent pay-per-view junior middleweight fight on September 18 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA between “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora promoted by Golden Boy Promotions: HBO bought it. "Breaking news!” exclaimed Richard Schaefer, interrupting Oscar De La Hoya’s entertaining presentation of the fighters...

Tavoris Cloud: “I Have One Prediction…”
By Gabriel Montoya: In the boxing dictionary under “throwback fighter,” there is a picture of light heavyweight titleholder Tavoris Cloud, 20-0 (18). From his sheer aggression to the way he is willing to go to war to get the job done, Cloud takes us back to a day when fighters fought hard every second of every round. Cloud is that rare fighter who, the instant you see him fight, you know you want to see him again. This Saturday night, on the HBO undercard of Devon Alexander vs. Andreas Kotelnik.

Marquez Beats Diaz Again
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): Lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, 51-5 (37), made it official that he is a better fighter than Juan Diaz, 35-4 (17), Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV. In a rematch of last year’s “Fight of the Year.” That first fight ended by a ninth-round knockout. This fight ended by unanimous decision as Marquez outboxed, outfought, and outthought a better version of Juan Diaz than most expected.

Dmitry Pirog Looks to Checkmate Danny Jacobs
Gabriel Montoya: In the support of the Golden Boy Promotions main event between Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez live from the Mandalay Bay on HBO PPV is a fight that’s under the radar but gaining steam as this week of promotion comes to a

Danny Jacobs’ Moment of Truth
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © Howard Schatz): A little under three years ago on the under card of Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Ricky Hatton, a Brooklyn-born amateur star named Daniel “The Golden Child” Jacobs, 20-0 (17), made his pro debut. A tall middleweight at 6’1” with a 73” reach, Jacobs is a nice blend of speed, athleticism, and a fighter’s mentality. Confidence flowed from him as he tore into the 1-1 Jose Hurtado at 29 seconds into the first round. It was a brief glimpse but enough to know

Nacho Beristain: On Marquez-Diaz II, Uppercuts, and the Art of Boxing
By Gabriel Montoya: Boxers have many forms; brawler, puncher-boxer, runner, dancer, the Philly fighter, the shoulder rolling defensive specialist,volume puncher, pressure fighter; the combinations and list is seemingly endless. Inside every fighter is a nature waiting to be discovered from which the forms flow and take shape. Few trainers have been able to identity the particular styles and natures in their fighters and hone it like hall of fame trainer Nacho Beristain

Oscar De La Hoya Speaks on Marquez vs Diaz II, Catchweights and More
By Gabriel Montoya: It was a star-studded day at the Fortune Gym in Hollywood, CA, Monday afternoon as Juan Manuel Marquez, Jorge Linares, Dimitry Pirog and Frankie Gomez held an open workout to promote Golden Boy Promotions’ rematch between Marquez and Juan Diaz this weekend at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV, this Saturday night, live on HBO PPV. It is a rematch of the 2009 “Fight of the Year” that saw Marquez tested by the younger Diaz early only to win by knockout in the

Giovanni Segura “I want to see how far I can go”
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): The classic axiom ‘styles make fights’ will be personified when Puerto Rico’s Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon (34-0 with 6 KOs) takes on Giovanni “El Guerrero Azteca” Segura (24-1-1 with 20 KOs) in a light flyweight unification match on August 28 that will leave the winner atop the 108 pounds division. The bout, held at the Coliseo Mario ”Quijote” Morales in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, pits the raw but explosive power punching title holder...

The League of Extraordinary Boxing
Gabriel Montoya: I was hanging out watching the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. John Duddy card with Steve Kim and friends a few weeks back when the subject of “What ruins boxing” came up. I brought up the “too many belts” argument (I blame the Maker’s Mark). Steve countered that, as much as anything, it is the networks who program according to their best interests, overpay fighters who are not as established or the draws that their paychecks suggest, bow to secret...

Bradley Takes Unanimous Decision over Abregu in Welterweight Debut
Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): Junior welterweight titleholder Tim “The Desert Storm” Bradley entered into a potentially dangerous battle tonight against Carlos Abregu (with a possible unification bout with fellow titleholder Devon Alexander hanging in the balance) Saturday night at the Agua Caliente Resort in Palm Springs, CA. Dangerous to most, a claim Bradley displayed as he boxed and fought his way en route to staking a claim as the best 140-pounder...

Catching up with Freddie Roach
By Gabriel Montoya: It has been some time since I spent a day in the Wild Card, checking in with the fighters and trainers and watching the hustle and bustle that is what many consider the hottest gym in boxing. So Monday afternoon, I did just that. On this day, it was a little low-key, in terms of who was fighting and training but still, the Wild Card was as busy as I remembered,

Lopez Blasts out Concepcion in Two; Donaire Scores TKO Too
Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): Featherweight titleholder and rising boxing star Juan Manuel Lopez gave his Puerto Rican fans something to talk about when he blasted out Bernabe Concepcion in two rounds while tasting canvas once in the process. The bout was held at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico before a giant raucous crowd that cheered on not only Lopez but Puerto Rican legend Felix “Tito” Trinidad...

Montoya’s Friday Mailbag
Gabriel Montoya - Good Friday, fight fans. This morning, we have takes on Andre Ward, Allan Green, Arthur Mercante Jr. and randomness. Plus, Montoya’s Weekend Fight Picks.

Montoya’s Friday Mailbag
Good Friday, fight fans. We have tales on Roy Jones, Jr, Yuri Foreman, Miguel Cotto and a whole lot more. Plus, as always, Montoya’s Weekend Fight Picks.

Montoya’s Monday Mailbag 24 May 2010
Good Monday, fight fans. We have takes on all the action from this weekend’s fights. Plus, as always, Montoya’s Weekend Fight Picks results.

Marquez Evens the Score with TKO of Vasquez; Perez and Mares Fight to a Draw
Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): You saw the original. You loved the sequel. You thought you saw the war to settle the score. Now Showtime, Espinoza Boxing, Gary Shaw Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions brought you “Marquez vs. Vasquez IV: Once and Four All” Saturday night from Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. A full mariachi band was in effect as the crowd got to their feet in anticipation of the fourth and (hopefully) final bout between these two warriors. The fighters entered

Montoya’s Friday Mailbag
Happy Friday, fight fans. We have takes on Abner Mares vs. Yonnhy Perez, Victor Ortiz, Amir Khan, Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman and a whole lot more. It’s going to be a great weekend of fights, so sit back, grab your favorite liq

Khan vs. Malignaggi Catches Fire in New York
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © HBO) Not quite a riot, but definitely a melee and hopefully as entertaining as Saturday’s night showdown at Madison Square Garden, today’s weigh-in for the Paulie ”The Magic Man” Malignaggi vs. Amir Khan junior welterweight throwdown got heated past the boiling point. All seemed fine, if a bit nationalistic, as the Brooklyn native Malignaggi hit the stage and looked ripped and ready

Daniel Dawson Finally Gets the Fight of His Life
By Gabriel Montoya: For junior middleweight contender Daniel Dawson, 34-1 (24), the long wait is finally over. After over a nearly two-year layoff, Dawson is getting a shot this Friday night at Sergiy Dzindiruk’s WBO junior middleweight title at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, CA. It’s been a long road to this point for the Perth, Australia native. After a near-decade-long kickboxing career that garnered him two world titles and six title defenses, Dawson decided to move to Los Angeles and

Williams Gets a Decision over Cintron in a Strange One
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): In the strangest ending to a fight I have ever seen in person, Paul “The Punisher” Williams won a technical split decision over Kermit “The Killer” Cintron in their junior middleweight bout at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

Montoya’s Friday Mailbag
Happy Friday, fight fans! We got takes on Kermit Cintron vs. Paul Williams, Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito, and Manny Pacquiao vs. Blood Tests. Plus, Montoya’s Weekend Fight Picks.

Cintron is Ready for War
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © Howard Schatz): A crossroads war is all set to begin Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA., when Kermit “The Killer” Cintron, 32-2-1 (28), takes on Paul “The Punisher” Williams, 38-1 (27), in a 154-pound fight that has it all: bad blood (both men have tried to square off in the ring twice before, to no avail, yet have trashed each other publicly, time and again) and an excellent style match-up. Cintron is a puncher-boxer who has nice size for a

The Road to Williams vs. Cintron; “The Weight is Over” Part One: The Killer Returns
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © Howard Schatz): It’s been two years since the last time welterweight/current junior middleweight titleholder Paul Williams,, 38-1 (27), and former welterweight titleholder-turned-junior middleweight contender Kermit “The Killer” Cintron, 32-2-1 (28), decided it was time to get it on. That ill-fated fight, set for February of 2008 on the beautiful island of St. Lucia would ultimately fall by the wayside when Cintron injured his right hand for the second time in a tune-

Wladimir Klitschko Stops Eddie Chambers with Seconds Remaining
By Gabriel Montoya: Before a giant crowd at the ESPRIT arena in Dusseldorf, Germany heavyweight titleholder Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko, 53-3 (48), used all but the last five seconds of his fight with “Fast” Eddie Chambers, 35-2 (18), to set up a win and score a TKO in the final moments. The action was not exciting, but technically sound as Klitschko controlled the action with his jab at long range advantage (an 81” reach for Wlad to Eddie’s 75”), excellent footwork that allowed him to

Mayweather and Mosley Usher in a New Era by Agreeing to USADA Standards
By Gabriel Montoya: Over the years, anti-doping has become a hotter and hotter issue. Baseball blew wide open once the first players got caught using. The BALCO scandal opened up the world’s eyes and showed that what fans thought they were seeing, during the infamous homerun race that saw Roger Maris’ 61 homers eclipsed by Mark McGuire and later Barry Bonds, wasn’t quite real. There was no more denying that all sports needed to clean up their acts. It hasn’t been a fast change or a complete one

Golden Boy Announces new signing and the return of Solo Boxeo
Gabriel Montoya: On Monday, members of Golden Boy Promotions, including Oscar De La Hoya and Eric Gomez, held a press conference at the El Mercado restaurant in East Los Angeles, CA to announce the return of the acclaimed Solo Boxeo Tecate series on Telefutura as well as their recent signing of standout amateur junior

Mayweather and Mosley Give Fans a Choice
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © Chee) Just a little more than a week away from an event in Texas, welterweight great Sugar Shane Mosley and the volcanic defensive dynamo that is the superstar boxer known as Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. came to downtown Los Angeles’ L.A. Live complex to finish off of a three-city hype parade to announce the most significant welterweight fight since Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad squared off in 1999.

Pacquiao Christens Cowboys Stadium, Shutting out Clottey
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © HBO-PPV): Before an announced crowd of 50,994 screaming fans, Filipino icon and welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao used a volume-punching attack, fleet feet, and ridiculous stamina to out-throw, out-hustle, and overwhelm Joshua Clottey in 12 rounds that looked so similar, it felt like déjà vu, to take a unanimous decision Saturday night at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It was the first fight at the stadium which hopes to host many more in years to

Montoya’s Saturday Mailbag
Max Members - A Special Edition of Mailbag. Packed full of Pacquiao vs Clottey, Floyd Mayweather, Montoya’s Weekend Picks and so much more. Enjoy!

Joshua Clottey Hopes to Turn “The Event” Into “The Upset”
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © Chris Farina / Top Rank) It was just a few short months ago when boxing seemed on the verge of getting what it always wanted: a super fight of epic proportions between the two top pound-for-pound fighters in the world of boxing in Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. All roads had led to this exciting match up; they had common opponents, had publicly spoken about fighting each other and flew through initial negotiations with reported ease. But then a sport-

Montoya’s Monday Mailbag
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © Chris Farina / Top Rank): Professionally, David Diaz hasn’t had to worry about second chances. Until he lost his WBC lightweight title to Manny Pacquiao in June of 2008, Diaz had but one loss and that was to Kendall Holt over three years prior to the Pacquiao fight. Both fights ended in stoppages but when you consider the type of grittiness “Dangerous David” brings into the ring, losses via stoppage are somewhat weirdly testament to the Chicago-born-and-bred fighter’s

Darchinyan Pounds out a Win on Guerrero’s Face
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): At the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA, super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan, 34-2-1 (27), beat up game and hungry Rodrigo Guerrero, 13-2-1 (9), over 12 tortuous rounds en route to a unanimous decision. It was an impressive performance for both fighters. On Darchinyan’s side, he boxed and moved effectively, showing angles and solid footwork both for his offense and defense. Guerrero, a green 22-year-old Mexican fighter making his U.S.

Get Ready for Omar Henry
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © Chris Farina/ Top Rank): At the end of 2009, Chicago, Ill. native Omar Henry, 7-0 (6), was on many boxing experts’ “Prospects of the Year” lists and deservedly so. An orthodox junior middleweight in a compact-but-explosive 5’9” boxer/puncher package, Henry is an all-action fighter with solid amateur pedigree, an intelligent mind, and the boxing world as his oyster. I had the opportunity to speak with him and co-manager Jay Johns this week, as they prepared for H

Montoya’s Monday Mailbag
So OK, I realize I left you hanging with the Friday Mailbag. Sometimes, life gets in the way of the column so we’ll leave it that. It’s been a long weekend with a ton of fights. I loved seeing Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. show he isn’t just the son of a legend but that he is also a viable, exciting fighter who comes to get down and doesn’t stop until his opponent does. The Antonio Escalante/Miguel Roman fight was as exciting as it gets and for me, is a frontrunner for “Fight of the Year.” And one week

Vazquez Jr. Stops Sonsona in Four to Claim WBO 122-Pound Title
By Gabriel Montoya: Saturday night from the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Wilfredo “WV2” Vazquez Jr., 18-0-1 (15), worked over Filipino Marvin Sonsona, 14-1-1 (12), in four rounds, en route to a brutal body shot stoppage to capture the vacant WBO 122-pound title. It is the first title for the son of boxing great Wilfredo Vazquez, and the first loss for Sonsona.

Ortiz, Golden Boy Promotions, “Fight Night Club” Score a Knockout
Gabriel Montoya: Thursday night at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles, CA, in front of a sold-out crowd, Golden Boy Promotions’ “Fight Night Club” returned to action with a special attraction card featuring junior welterweight contender “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, prospect Carlos Molina, Charles Huerta, Ricky Lopez and Luis Ramos, Jr. Between a strange band featuring break dancers, rappers and guitars, the Golden Boy Dancers (who get an A+ across the board from Yours Truly) and an exciting card geared

Charles Huerta Rejoins the “Fight Night Club”
Gabriel Montoya: Thursday night, across the street from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, Golden Boy Promotions’ prospect showcase club show, “Fight Night Club” at the Club Nokia returns. The first of a scheduled nine cards in 2010 features contender Victor Ortiz in a stay-busy bout, as well as rising prospects Carlos Molina and Luis Ramos. Also featured on the televised portion of the show is a young featherweight and exciting prospect in his right, from Paramount, CA, Charles Huerta,

Montoya’s Monday Mailbag
If there’s one thing I hate more than bad scorecards and mismatches, its fans who cry "this is why Boxing fans are turning over to MMA" Brotha please, that’s a freaking copout line.I have a couple cousins who are hardcore MMA fans, much like I am a boxing junkie and I’ve seen some of their shows. I’ve seen bad decisions in the UFC/WEC/MMA I’ve also seen questionable stoppages,and very very boring fights in that sport.When this happens I never here the MMA fans

Segura Takes Out Tello in Three
By Gabriel Montoya (Photo © German Villasenor): WBA junior flyweight champion Giovanni Segura, 23-1-1 (19) stopped Walter Tello, 14-4 (6), in the fourth round of the main event of an exciting Fox Sports/Top Rank Live card, Saturday night at the Discoteca El Alebrije in Acapulco, Mexico. It was an all-action bout with defense being at a premium in Segura’s second defense of his title. The action started where great fights end up, at center ring with both men going off on each other with abandon,

Montoya’s Friday Mailbag
Gabriel Montoya: It’s that time again, fight fans. Before we get started, I want to make one thing perfectly clear. While my portion of this column is edited and proofed by someone besides myself, a typo or two may get through from time to time. It happens. However, if you’re a regular reader of this mailbag, you’ve probably figured out I don’t edit the emails. So if they have misspelled words, typos or whatever, we don’t touch ‘em. These are your unadulterated (within reason. Curse words might

Fortune’s Gym on the Rise
Gabriel Montoya: Gems are hidden all throughout Los Angeles. Great little Mexican restaurants and tiny movie theatres that play oldies-but-goodies. The hole-in-the-wall-on-the-outside bars that reveal palaces upon further reflection that hide away from the glitz and glamour of the here-today-gone-tomorrow culture that is the City of Angels. Recently, I was invited to yet another hidden gem just off Sunset Boulevard and Curson Avenue next to a liquor store, an organic foods café, and the Purple P

Fres Oquendo Gears Up for One More Run at the Title
By Gabriel Montoya: “Fast” Fres Oquendo, 31-5 (20), has seen it all in the sport of boxing. After a solid amateur career that saw him take the 1993 National Golden Gloves heavyweight title, Oquendo turned pro in 1997 and since then, has taken on a plethora of fighters such as Chris Byrd, Duncan Dokiwari, Bert Cooper, Cliff Etienne, David Tua, James Toney, Evander Holyfield and Maurice Harris. Win or lose, the Puerto Rican-born Chicago resident has used his defensive skills to extend 14