Snips and Snipes
My hypocrisy meter went of the scale when the WBC held their press conference over the Edgar Sosa vs Rodel Mayol fight. Every word indicated that Jose Sulaiman thought that an injustice had been done to Sosa and used the words “Serious blatant head butt “. However Sulaiman went on to say “The WBC does not have in its rules a modification of a decision, once the local commission has given it. If we changed that rule, it would be chaos.”
So Mayol is champion and Sosa is an ex-champ, but proclaimed Emeritus Champion - whatever that bit of gobbledy gook means. However, I have news for Jose; by his definition chaos is already with us.
On June 28, 2008 in Las Vegas in a fight for the vacant WBC interim super-feather title the referee and the local commission declared Francisco Lorenzo the winner over Humberto Soto on disqualification. On July 14, 2008 in a press release Mr. Sulaiman declared “Regarding the WBC interim super featherweight world championship fight between Humberto Soto and Francisco Lorenzo, the WBC Board of Governors has voted for the following: The World Boxing Council officially confirms its decision of NO CONTEST, which was rendered at ringside on June 28”.
In other words the WBC refused to accept the verdict of the local commission in that instance which according to Mr. Sulaiman contravenes its own rules. One argument put forward for them sacrificing one of the most popular boxers in Mexico is that they did not want to take the chance of upsetting Manny Pacquiao, who is involved with Mayol, and so lose the massive publicity and sanctioning fees that Manny brings. Support Sosa or take the money - a no brainer - and there goes integrity as well. (Hadn’t it already gone a long time ago? – Ed.) No, that can’t be true - can it?
Manny himself has said he will have just two more fights. His March fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr is obviously the first and the result of that may change his plans. In addition Manny has made it clear that he is looking to revenge an earlier loss - in the political arena - and will definitely be going after a seat in the Philippines Congress. Let’s hope he beats out two of his opponents - Imelda Marcos, she of the shoe fetish, and Rigoberto Madera, who is aiming particularly high. “According to God’s will, I will start as President of the Philippines, then as Secretary-General of the United Nations, then as President of the US until I will be crowned as Earth emperor at Mount Sinai,” he said.
Amir Khan did everything that could be expected from him in his one round destruction of Dmitriy Salita. With WBA interim champion Marcos Maidana declaring that he is going after WBC champion Devon Alexander, that leaves Amir free to go where he will. There is talk of Juan Manuel Marquez and a fight with Ricky Hatton would be huge, but the big fight would be over who promotes it - Frank Warren or Ricky. If Bob Arum and Don King could do business together then there is some hope it could come off.
Dmitriy had never faced a rated boxer, but the WBA had him at No1, ahead of Manny Pacquiao, that really did Amir a favour, but made the WBA ratings look the rubbish that they are.
It will be interesting to see where Kevin Mitchell goes next. Even before his win over Breidis Prescott the WBO had already moved him from No 1 super feather to No 2 lightweight, behind Argentinian Jorge Barrios (Prescott was rated No 11, and Miguel Vazquez who beat Prescott in July was not even in the top 15. For my opinion of the WBO ratings see above paragraph relating to the WBA ratings). However, the champion Juan Manuel Marquez, is on Amir’s radar, which will give Frank Warren a problem in deciding who will land that fight. Interim WBO lightweight champion Michael Katsidis, would be a fairly big risk for a very small reward.
The old question of why great fighters keep fighting on when long past their best is relevant again. Roy Jones Jr long ago earned his place in the Hall of Fame but now the one round blow-out by Aussie Danny Green will sit there at the end of his record. Although it sounds as if Roy wants another fight to go out with a win - if he can find one.
Another who should have called it a day a long time ago is Johnny Tapia who is threatening a comeback. Johnny is another future Hall of Fame entry but his problems out of the ring are also legendary. Great talent greatly flawed.
It seems that great boxers just cannot be left to rest in peace. Someone sent photos to the family of Alexis Arguello purported to be of the body of Alexis at autopsy. The photos showed extensive bruising on the body, and now the family suspect that the great man’s death might not have been suicide and are demanding an investigation.
The WBO Latino light-middleweight champion Diego Chaves is a good prospect with twelve wins to his name. As an amateur he was South American Junior champion, won a bronze medal in the Pan American Games and competed in the World championships. Boxing is a family business with his brothers Ismael and Ariel also pros. However, his father, Rudecindo, was far less talented winning just four of his ten fights, but then he had a hard enough time in the gym as he was a main sparring partner to Carlos Monzon and Victor Galindez.
What a year it has been for South African boxing. The IBF have looked very kindly on them, and they have taken full advantage of it. Isaac Hlatshwayo won the vacant IBF welter title, Malcolm Klassen won and then lost the super featherweight title, Simphiwe Nongqayi beat Jorge Arce for the vacant super fly title and Moruti Mthalane won the flyweight title. In the “minor world title” stakes guys such as Frans Botha, William Gare, Mlungisi Dlamini, Zolani Marali, Tkalani Ndlovu, Simpiwe Vetyeka and Bongani Mwelase hold various IBO and WBF titles. In addition both Jeff Mathebula (against Celestino Caballero) and Ali Funeka (against Joan Guzman) were very unlucky not to add to the tally. Keep an eye on them next year in the lower divisions as they also have unbeaten fighters such as Zolani Tete, Jackson Chauke, Hekkie Budler, and the best of the lot, southpaw strawweight Nkosinathi Joyi, unbeaten in 20 fights, and with a stoppage win over Sammy Gutierrez, who held current IBF champion Raul Garcia to a draw.
