“JuanMa” and “El Ciclon” Conquer, Fueling Flames of a Featherweight Future
By Luis Cortes III (Photo © German Villasenor): Juan Manuel Lopez, 28-0 (25), dominated the skilled Steven Luevano, 37-2-1 (15), over the course of their fight to capture for Luevano’s WBO featherweight championship. Luevano tried to patiently circle the ring in order to set up some hard shots, but it was Lopez who found a home for his thudding lead left hands. Lopez also showed a powerful stick that pushed Luevano back, even when it was blocked. As the rounds continued to go by, Luevano’s face

Will the Second Time Around Be the Charm for Mtagwa?
By Luis Cortes III: A few things have been floating around the sport of boxing in regard to Rogers Mtagwa since his last fight. One sentiment is that, like in so many other past fights, the wrong fighter was announced as the winner. Last October, Rogers Mtagwa and rising Puerto Rican star Juan Manuel Lopez engaged in one of the best fights of the year. It was a fight that, from the opening bell was fast and brutal; getting everyone inside of the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden on their

Sports Talking: 610 WIP Style
By Luis A. Cortes III: So there I was, sitting inside my car trying desperately to see through the windshield; which had been recently blasted by a crazy snowstorm. I’m sitting there trying to get warm as I flipped through my choices on the radio. With nothing but what is considered music coming from what sounded like an endless stream of ten-year old voices, I figured I would try my luck on the always underused AM band. If you have ever lived in the northeast part of this great land, or have

The Viking Warrior makes his pilgrimage to U.S. Soil
By Luis Cortes III (Photo © Jan Sanders / Goossen Tutor Promotions) It’s inevitable in most sports (except for soccer, or football to all my FIFA10 faithful) that if you want to make it to the big stage of mainstream media; you must find your way to the United States. Most decorated athletes from foreign countries try and make their voyage as soon as possible. For boxers this is not always the case. Many fighters have successful careers staying in their home countries while they cultivate a

A Legendary Night at the Fights
By Luis Cortes - “So what are these events like?” This was the question that was posed to me by my good friend as we climbed up the steps towards a true mecca of boxing that rests in the heart of North Philadelphia. A quick smile came across my face and all I could say in response was, “Eric, just enjoy it.”

The Art of Cutting
By Luis Cortes III - As I sat and watched what turned out to be yet another effective albeit unexciting performance from the senior of the Klitschko duo, it seemed clear to me that while Vitali has clearly mastered his craft and how he plans to be effective over the course of a fight. It was a lack of dedication to an ageless style of his craft on the part of Arreola that marked his downfall, even before the opening bell rang through the bowls of the Staple Center on Saturday night.