[kenyan_cheena]

BOXING
MONTHLY

VOLUME 28, ISSUE 7 - JULY 2006

(following are selected entries from the magazine's
"Fight Review" section)

1 July: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Marcelo Franks (26-3(20)) TKO5 James Anders (26-7-2(16))
(heavyweight division, WBA title fight)

This bout would have to go down as one of the most farcical world title bouts in recent memory. It was the main event of the WBA's embarrassing "Night of Champions" and featured one fighter who had been knocked out cold by Ken Norton in a WBC title challenge less than three months earlier (Marcelo Franks) and another who had not fought in fourteen months due to an on-going battle with drugs and alcohol (James Anders). Unsurprisingly, Anders had looked in poor shape when he'd stepped on the scales at the weigh-in, rolls of fat showing as he recorded a career-high 245 pounds. The bout itself was unremarkable and an insult to both the former WBA king Sergey Anyukov and the many fighters of the past who fought tooth and nail to win a world championship but never achieved it. Anders was dropped on his backside earlier in the 5th and with Franks pounding him senseless on the ropes the bout was stopped shortly before the bell.

8 July: Los Angeles, California, USA
Fred Boatwright (3-0-1(1)) SD4 Jamal Lowes (2-1(1))
(middleweight division)

In one of the most bizarre fights this observer has ever seen, Boatwright managed to secure a split decision win almost entirely by virtue of his superb defensive prowess. Lowes threw more than twice as many punches but landed only 15% of them, the lanky Boatwright parrying, slipping and ducking his shots time and again before firing in an occasional counter punch. At times the 18 year-old looked like he didn't want to be in the ring but when it was all over and he was announced the winner he was quick to big note himself with a flood of bragadociousness. This didn't exactly endear him to the crowd, who hurled a deal of criticism at him from late in round one through to the final bell. Boatwright has a distinct lack of aggression but if he can rectify this and also increase his workrate, he might have a future in the sport.

15 July: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Jose Molina (29-2-1(22)) UD12 Jesus Marquez (21-3-1(17))
(junior-lightweight division, IBF title fight)

This bout was an interesting one simply due to the fact that it featured the man who vacated the IBF's featherweight crown back in October, Jose Molina. That one act ended up setting off a chain reaction of events that led to the federation's president Michael Jacobs being charged in relation to death threats made against Mexican fighter Gilberto Vasquez. Since moving up to junior-lightweight Molina had been victorious twice, in January and April. Those wins earned him a shot at the IBF belt that had been vacated by IBL competitor Hector Hernandez in February and remained that way ever since. Promoted by New Jersey bigshot Robert Tattaglia, Molina was more or less gift-wrapped the belt as he was put in against the limited and undeserving Mexican Jesus Marquez. Molina dropped Marquez in the 5th and went on to take the verdict by scores of 118-111, 117-112 and 118-112.

16 July: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Jimmy Krug (4-0(2)) TKO3 Martin Dell (3-3(1))
(bantamweight division)

Promising Newark-born bantamweight Jimmy Krug maintained his undefeated record with a dominant showing against the hand-picked New Yorker Martin Dell. There was only ever going to be one outcome in this one and Krug displayed some irritation afterwards at being involved in such a mismatch. He's a young man with big ambitions, which he feels he has a greater chance of reaching competing in the IBL. Having come to James Molk's attention following his impressive career start the 19 year-old severed ties with his manager and signed an IBL contract on the 25th of July. Krug will be involved in the organisation's upcoming world ranking bouts.

18 July: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Brutus Brody (5-0(5)) KO1 LeVon Stephens (4-2-1(2))
(heavyweight division)

Brody continued what has been a destructive career start with a sixty-one second decimation of Cleveland native LeVon Stephens. Possessing frightening power and aggression, this 27 year-old ex-convict looks capable of going a long way. Surprisingly the IBL have not made an attempt to sign him up yet, perhaps because of his criminal background. It's been rumoured that Chicago-based promoter Tyrone Hillier has expressed an interest in adding him to his growing stable of fighters, the most prominent of which is WBC/IBF middleweight champion Bert Lytell. Despite being without a manager, promoter or even a regular corner crew, this slugger appears to be on the verge of national stardom. It'll be interesting to see how Brody fairs against tougher opposition.

18 July: Guadalajara, Mexico
Max Rasmuth (5-1(3)) UD6 Alexis Valderrama (6-1(4))
(IBL welterweight division)

Eliminated in stage one of the IBL's Americas Welterweight Championship tournament promising New Yorker Max Rasmuth produced a strong effort in a world ranking bout against the Colombian Valderrama. The Rochester-born southpaw was simply too quick and classy for Valderrama, flooring him in round two with a nice uppercut before going on to win by unanimous decision (58-55 on all three cards). Rasmuth has previously been described as one of the real gentlemen of boxing and it would be fantastic to see this upstanding young man find some success in the IBL.

18 July: Guadalajara, Mexico
Eric Bengtson (6-0-2(3)) KO4 Kid Azteca (4-1(2))
(IBL welterweight division)

Like Rasmuth, Bengtson bowed out of the Americas welterweight tournament in stage one. His elimination was controversial as he appeared to get the better of Pedro Cabrera but the bout was scored a draw. Last night Bengtson showed that he's already put the disappointment behind him with a 4th round knockout of Kid Azteca. Bengston floored his opponent in round one and then dropped him two more times in the 4th, Azteca counted out at the 2:43 mark. Bengtson remains undefeated and it will be interesting to see how he performs during the next twelve months. Without a doubt, the Milwaukee native is a genuinely promising talent of the division.

20 July: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Ron E. Vincent (4-0(2)) MD4 Stevie Raymond (8-2(5))
(heavyweight division)

The man known as "REV" was unsurprisingly given a tougher time than in his previous bouts as he was up against the most experienced opponent of his career in Philadelphia's Stevie Raymond. Nevertheless, Vincent came through admirably, weathering Raymond's aggression to take a 39-37, 38-38, 39-37 verdict for his fifth career victory. The ordained minister is becoming something of a local celebrity in his hometown of Suffolk, Virginia, aswell as the larger Hampton Roads community. The IBL contacted him a few days after the bout and are looking to add him to what is already a very talented heavyweight division. As of this magazine's publishing Vincent is yet to sign with them.

22 July: Mexico City, Mexico
Francisco Rivas (33-4-2(27)) KO10 Antonio Hawkins (27-1-1(21))
(featherweight division, IBF title fight)

Previously planned, re-scheduled and eventually abandoned due to the Michael Jacobs situation, the controversial title fight between Mexico's Francisco Rivas and Miami native Antonio Hawkins was finally held some five months after its originally scheduled date. For those who haven't been following the story the IBF featherweight belt is the one that Gilberto Vasquez earned a shot at in an elimination bout last September, a shot he never received due to the manouvers of Jacobs and promoter Robert Tattaglia. Both Rivas and Hawkins are promoted by Tattaglia and in something of an upset the veteran Rivas knocked out the younger, flashy Hawkins with a single left hook midway through the 10th. Hawkins was in complete control of the fight at the time and based on what was said during the post-fight interviews a rematch is likely.

25 July: New York, New York, USA
Frank Galvano (3-0(3)) TKO2 Jimmy Bridges (2-2(1))
(middleweight division)

This hard-hitting New Yorker possesses an ego that equals the power in his right hand, which has decimated each of his first four opponents inside of three rounds. Galvano grew up on the tough streets of the Bronx, associating with known mobsters who have become some of his biggest fans since he started his pro career. Despite his talents it's been said that he lacks maturity and focus, and also enjoys his liquor more than he should. It remains to be seen what kind of fighter "Frankie" develops into but based on his opening quartet of bouts the promise is obvious.