Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Ricky Hatton and Paulie Malignaggi go to War on HBO’s World Championship Boxing this Saturday Night
By Daniel “Tex” Cohen
RSR

IBO Light Welterweight Titlist Ricky “Hit Man” Hatton, 44-1, 31 KO’s, defends his belt against Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi, 25-1, 5 KO’s, this Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, on HBO’s World Championship Boxing.
This fight is simply the very best in the junior welterweight division in terms of star power and interest. Hatton and Malignaggi are considered by many as the two best light welterweights in the world.

Malignaggi and Hatton were scheduled for a September 13th press conference, but only Malignaggi showed up that day; Hatton was apparently ill. Malignaggi took the opportunity to sidekick his opponent verbally while he was not there to defend himself.

"There are only two boxers with this style, John Ruiz and Ricky Hatton. I will have an answer for Hatton on Nov. 22."

The Ruiz statement is worthy of a few raises of the eyebrow in hard core boxing circles. Ruiz, while respected for his accomplishments, is considered by many as one of the least exciting fighters to watch in the world.

Malignaggi has drawbacks as well. As evidenced by his official statistics, he lacks the pop of many elite fighters including his upcoming opponent. However, Malignaggi brings lightning speed and an unusual style of active movement to the ring for his fights. Hatton, on the other hand, is a straight forward brawler, leaving the public to decide which of the two vastly contrasting style will prevail.

The winner of the bout will have closed some doors to the past and opened some to the future. Hatton lost to Floyd Mayweather, JR., last year in the biggest fight of his career, suffering a tenth round knockout for the only loss of his career. Hatton schooled Juan Lazcano in his last fight, but had to overcome some rough spots to nail down the victory. Hatton looked rather beat up for a victorious man after the bout.

As for Malignaggi, he has his own past demons in the ring. He is coming off of a close victory over Lovemore N’dou, a man he had already beaten in the past. Prior to that bout, he took a close, debatable unanimous decision over Herman Ngoudjo. Malginaggi’s only career loss was a brutally one-sided unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Miguel Cotto in June of 2006. Since then, he has been working his way back toward a Cotto fight as hard as he can. Whether or not that fight has a chance of becoming a reality depends largely in part on whether or not he picks up the victory in this fight.

This card is packed to the brim with action-packed fights. Exciting, aggressive undefeated middleweight James Kirkland, 23-0, 20 KO’s, will take on Brian Vera, 16-1, 10 KO’s, in a bout between sluggers of the some of the strongest Pound for Pound variety. Kirkland’s last four opponents were a combined 77-10 entering the ring with him; he ended the night for each of those fighters before the close of the second round. He also trains with female great Ann Wolfe. Vera, a Contender alumnus, has won his last two fights and defeated Emanuel Steward’s best prospect Andy Lee in March. After a first round knockdown, Vera rose to his feet and overwhelmed Lee for a seventh round stoppage. Now riding a high wave of success, Vera is looking to capitalize on his guts and his skills for a night of glory against Kirkland.

Also on the card, well-known Filipino warrior Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, 26-1, 19 KO’s, returns to action against Heriberto Ruiz, 39-7, 23 KO’s. Bautista is riding a three fight winning streak after suffering an infamous first round knockout to the powerful Daniel Ponce De Leon last year. Bautista has had to fight back strong from the highlight reel loss and still has yet to take on another big name opponent. Prior to his loss against Ponce De Leon, Bautista was considered one of the most popular Filipino fighters in the world. Still popular, Bautista must now prove that his loss to Ponce de Leon was a fluke and that the real Bautista is capable of beating some of the best fighters in the world. Ruiz was riding a four fight winning streak, but suffered a unanimous decision loss in his last bout.

Ricky Hatton has the great opportunity to watch his little brother Matthew fight before him on the card, as Matthew Hatton, 34-4, 13 KO’s, takes on the gate keeping veteran Ben Tackie, 29-10, 17 KO’s. Tackie’s last four fights have all been losses. While all of the bouts were close, Tackie is now engaged in a struggle to maintain relevance. The younger Hatton, ironically nick named “Magic,” has won six of his last seven, but dropped a unanimous decision for the Commonwealth Title to Craig Watson in May.

Sirimongkol Singwancha, 59-2, 34 KO’s, takes on Rogelio Castaneda, 24-14, 8 KO’s. Castaneda has lost four of his last six bouts and should make for easy pickings for Singwancha, who has fought real fighters in the States before.

The card also features several young undefeated prospects. 20-year-old Danny “Swift” Garcia, 8-0, 7 KO’s, will fight against an opponent to be named later. Garcia has already faced and defeated several sturdy journeymen fighters. 18-year-old Hylon Williams, JR., 5-0, 1 KO, takes on Ramon Flores, 2-3, 2 KO’s. Williams, who fought impressively on the Juan Diaz-Michael Katsidis undercard earlier this year, is rising quickly for his age. Williams is well ahead of his own physical maturity, making him a prospect to watch in the next few years.
In the warm up bout of the evening, Adrian Gonzalez makes his pro debut against Alfred Berto, 0-2.

[Randyman]

Reading the Margarito article, it seem to me that Margarito is calling the shots, what is he paying his managers for? when my boys were fighting, I, and I along did the negotiating, the boys were not in the room as I negotiated, after I made a deal, I would tell them, "you're fighting so and so, on so and so date, and this is what you're getting paid", this is what a manager is for, to negotiate, the manager takes care of business and the fighter does the fighting, I bet nobody told old Mel how to negotiate.

Frank, it's a new age and everything is upside sown. I guess even Margarito isn't immune to the "I'm a star" syndrome. I hate to think that the ultimate blue collar fighter is changing sides. As bad a fight as this would have been for Mosley it was a good deal for Margarito. It doesn't take much for public opinion to change and he could find himself on the outside looking in somewhere up the road.

As for Mel, he would have hit someone with a baseball bat and just walked away.

[Randyman]

A dynamite team and two of the nicest guys you could ever meet: Dan Hanley Jr and Sr.

Dan, It was really nice meeting you and your Pops. He's a great guy. I think I can speak for all the guys here that have lost their dads that it's great thing that you do for him. He was really enjoying himself. Jeri said he reminded her of her own father.

Randy

[Rick Farris]

Photo by Rick Farris


Rick and Monica Farris

Beautiful, gracious and generous. Both of you!

Rick
What a beautifull lady you have,inside and out. You have the real goods there with Monica. Rog

Thank you for the kind words guys. You two have the goods as well, two special woman in Jeri and Maria. In fact, although they were not present, I know the same is true of Dan's wife, Angela, and Frank's Connie. I'm sure the same is true of Brian's lady. Monica was so impressed with my friends, all of you. On the way home from the banquet, she remarked at how great an artist she thought Roger is. I was so focused on the event, I missed the opportunity to view the paintings he had brought. When Monica told me she saw them I asked, "where were they?" She answered, "Right in front of you." I don't know how I missed them Roger, but maybe next time I'll be more observant. Again I want to thank everybody for coming and making the event so special. As Rog said, the event itself was OK, but the best part were those meetings in the bar, etc. Where we all just got together with a drink and and visited. Now I'm really excited about next year, the WBHOF banquet might be OK, but it won't matter because we are the ones that make it special. Next year, Frank, Bennie, Bruce & Tom need to join us! Thanks again, you guys have a lot of class and I'm proud to call you my friends.

-Ricardo

[Rick Farris]

A dynamite team and two of the nicest guys you could ever meet: Dan Hanley Jr and Sr.

Dan, It was really nice meeting you and your Pops. He's a great guy. I think I can speak for all the guys here that have lost their dads that it's great thing that you do for him. He was really enjoying himself. Jeri said he reminded her of her own father.

Randy

AMEN!!!! Dan's Pop's is the bomb! He is the Patriarc of our group each year.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Reading the Margarito article, it seem to me that Margarito is calling the shots, what is he paying his managers for? when my boys were fighting, I, and I along did the negotiating, the boys were not in the room as I negotiated, after I made a deal, I would tell them, "you're fighting so and so, on so and so date, and this is what you're getting paid", this is what a manager is for, to negotiate, the manager takes care of business and the fighter does the fighting, I bet nobody told old Mel how to negotiate.

Frank, it's a new age and everything is upside sown. I guess even Margarito isn't immune to the "I'm a star" syndrome. I hate to think that the ultimate blue collar fighter is changing sides. As bad a fight as this would have been for Mosley it was a good deal for Margarito. It doesn't take much for public opinion to change and he could find himself on the outside looking in somewhere up the road.

As for Mel, he would have hit someone with a baseball bat and just walked away.

You are 100% right, Randy. Mel would have clubbed the bastid.

-Rick

[bennie]

Former Light Heavyweight Champion Marvin Johnson and wife
2008 World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee



Former Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis and wife
2008 World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee

Lewis was in the middle of a great big yawn just seconds before I shot this photo. I waited a second and then he saw me with my camera and straightened up. He almost looked embarrassed. I didn't have the heart. Maybe I should have.

A fight that should have happened in the early 1990's is Lennox Lewis vs Riddick Bowe. Before Bowe fell apart he was a pretty damned good fighter. A fight between these two would have been huge. Too bad it never happened. I heard Bowe's making a comeback, at 41 years of age. Hmmm

You should have. It would have summed up much of his fireless career.

[kikibalt]

Deep-fried turkey at Tasty Q Bar-B-Que

It's Thanksgiving the way the Pilgrims would have wanted it
By Amir Kenan

Metromix
November 12, 2008


For $75 in L.A. you can get three-quarters of a seven-course tasting menu at Bastide, almost four ounces of Japanese Kobe rib-eye at Cut or more than two dozen chili dogs at Pink’s.

Or you could get a whole 13-pound Cajun spice-injected, deep-fried turkey. Your choice.

This Thanksgiving, while others are busy stuffing, basting and merrily contracting salmonella from their turkeys, Tasty Q Bar-B-Que can transform your raw bird into a deep-fried beauty.

Tasty Q Bar-B-Que is a land of pigs feet, greens and Cajun-spiced everything, a place where the “mild” sauce is potent enough to cure a cold and the hot sauce can cure cancer—well, maybe. If you’re driving on Crenshaw Blvd., just south of the 10, and you stumble upon a converted Taco Bell with brightly colored, hand-painted murals of chickens running from a boiling pot and a sign that reads “ asty Q Barb cue," congratulations: You’ve officially arrived at deep-fried bird heaven.

Inside, you’ll more turkey-related murals painted on every available surface, along with a TV blasting Oprah and a jukebox that’s heavy on Boyz II Men and Sade. If you’re lucky, you’ll be greeted by Debra, who will let you know her thoughts about L.A. (she wants out!) and ask your opinion on selling some property in Mobile (we’re still weighing the pros and cons). And if you’re really lucky, she’ll let you sample the spicy chicken sausage—made fresh for Tasty Q by a local vendor—that’s part of the hearty $7 lunch combo, a ginormous plate that includes a pork rib, two beef ribs, a half-link of sausage, coleslaw, beans and bread.

But the specialty of the house—and the reason the place gets so busy around the holidays—is the service of one deep, dark, turkey-sized vat of hot oil. While no holiday is without fire hazard, we think it better to leave the turkey to professionals who have the proper blood alcohol levels for the task. First, a few necessary steps:

1) Plan ahead. Bring your bird to Tasty Q at least three days before Turkey Day, or you'll have to settle for fried bites from the Colonel.

2) Buy a turkey. Butterball’s handy-dandy turkey calculator indicates one pound of uncooked bird flesh per guest.

3) Thaw turkey. Getting it fresh is a grand but expensive gesture. Yours will most likely be frozen, so allot enough time to thaw thoroughly. Calculation: one day of thawing for every four pounds of bird.

4) Fork over $2.50 per pound. For 50 cents more, Tasty Q can smoke that bad boy in the outdoor smokehouse.

5) Kindly decline the extra spice injection—unless burning off your palate is a holiday tradition. We found the usual amount is quite generous, creating pungent rings of Cajun blend throughout the breast and wings.

6) Wash your hands like Howie Mandel, or some other bald, OCD-afflicted game-show host.

In just a couple of hours, you’ll be driving home with a hot, sweet, vinegary turkey buckled into your passenger seat. (Note: Your car will never smell the same again. Believe us: no amount of new-car spray can eradicate the odor.) While the nice folks at Tasty Q are super-accommodating, they won’t deep fry anything crazy—sorry, fried Mars bar fanatics—or any other kind of poultry—no fried chicken allowed. But they are willing to take on turkey drumsticks or even a whole ham, in case you decide to go medieval for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner.

Amir Kenan is contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.

[kikibalt]

Photo by Dan


Ed Hernandez, Jerri and Randy DeLa O

[kikibalt]

Photo and caption by Dan Hanley Jr.


Our own Brian Higgins with Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez and Danny 'Little Red' Lopez

[bennie]

Photo and caption by Dan Hanley Jr.


Our own Brian Higgins with Rodolfo 'El Gato' Gonzalez and Danny 'Little Red' Lopez

Three expugs.

[bennie]

Photo by Dan


Ed Hernandez, Jerri and Randy DeLa O

You like your Ketchup over there.

[kikibalt]

"Sugar Ramos"

By Diego

[kikibalt]

Photo by Dan


Ed Hernandez, Jerri and Randy DeLa O

You like your Ketchup over there.

Not me!...

[bennie]

Photo by Dan


Ed Hernandez, Jerri and Randy DeLa O

You like your Ketchup over there.

Not me!...

I like a bit, on chips, etc. Those bottles seem to be everywhere over there.

[kikibalt]

Thats a Heinz 57 Ketchup bottle.

[bennie]

Thats a Heinz 57 Ketchup bottle.

Yep, we got the same.

[bennie]

When Oscar De La Hoya revealed to the world a few months ago that he was fighting Manny Pacquiao, the world - well, the boxing world - coughed and spluttered, shook its head, reeled, and finally spoke. "Why is a former world middleweight champion fighting a current world lightweight champion?" Good question.
Oscar is bored, that's why.
The 35-year-old with the Colgate smile and The Golden Boy tag is a shrewd, hard businessman who already has enough money tucked away - safely tucked away - to shore up any pending American collapse in the dollar, and he collects another $15 million for this one (minimum), which he will plough into gold or something. Anyway, another few million always comes in handy for a man with a dazzling Puerto Rican wife, but Oscar fights fights because he wants to fight, because he wants the fire in his belly, a feeling he is clearly unable to generate from his role as one of boxing's leading promoters.
He wants to get in there.
Of course getting in there with someone like Antonio Margarito, the monster of a welterweight who could easily move up and accommodate De La Hoya at his natural light-middleweight, or the slick and powerful Shane Mosley, a man who has already beaten him twice, or the young, unbeaten and dangerous WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto, appeals neither to Oscar's boredom nor his business head. He is not that bored. He got away with belting little Steve Forbes around for 12 rounds earlier this year in his native California, a former IBF super-featherweight champion, and something must have 'pinged' in his head and now he gets in there with little Pacquiao, on December 6 in Las Vegas, a man who actually turned pro at light-flyweight (that is not a misprint).
Pacquiao is a great boxer, don't get me wrong. The southpaw Filipino, known as the Bruce Lee of boxing, is quick and sharp and at 5ft 6ins (Oscar is 5ft 10ins) he has shown in the past he knows how to break up bigger opponents, such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar Larios and Nedal Hussein, and he comes off a brilliant 10-round destruction of Chicago's gutsy David Diaz for the WBC lightweight title.
He has also been sparring with the 5ft 10ins Amir Khan.
Trouble is, Pacquiao's pasting of Diaz in Las Vegas in June was his first ever fight at lightweight, after three years at super-featherweight, where he licked Morales and Larios, two years at featherweight, where he licked Barrera, five years at super-bantamweight, where he licked Hussein - need I go on? Or back. Pound for pound, 29-year-old Manny is probably the best figher in the world but he takes on De La Hoya up at 147lbs - at welterweight - and that really is stretching the whole poundage thing.
I thought Manny looked a little chubby faced in the build-up as he desperately bulks up, while De La Hoya is looking lean and mean and so much bigger, boiling down, of course. Oscar was down to welterweight by mid-November and will enjoy a real advantage in strength on the night to match all the physical advantages he will enjoy in natural weight, size and reach, including a six inch reach advantage. Moreover, Pacquiao has struggled in the recent past with an unheralded Mexican stylist by the name of Juan Manuel Marquez, a smooth-boxing, sharp-hitting, punch-picking, long-armed stylist very much in the De La Hoya mould who looked desperately unlucky to drop a split decision to Pacquiao earlier this year in Las Vegas. It was a fight De La Hoya promoted, a super-featherweight fight.
De La Hoya struggled himself with an unheralded German stylist by the name of Felix Sturm back in June 2004 in Vegas but he came through on a unanimous decision and picked up the WBO belt in the process - the WBO middleweight belt. He also fought Bernard Hopkins at the weight two years later, one of the greatest middleweights of all time, and his three fights since have occurred at light-middleweight, one of them a dazzling six-round stoppage of Nicaraguan wild man Ricardo Mayorga. He hasn't had far to boil down.
Anyway, you're getting the point about the size difference but this is a scary match and the point needs making, over and over. On such a theme, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, has barked a whole series of bold predictions to the press favouring his man (Pacquiao has said virtually nothing) and seems genuinely irked by the presence of 87-year-old Angelo Dundee in Team De La Hoya, but every time one looks at it one sees big welterweight vs small lightweight - a mismatch, as simple as that, and over 12 rounds, too.
A good big 'un always beats a good little 'un.

[kikibalt]

When Oscar De La Hoya revealed to the world a few months ago that he was fighting Manny Pacquiao, the world - well, the boxing world - coughed and spluttered, shook its head, reeled, and finally spoke. "Why is a former world middleweight champion fighting a current world lightweight champion?" Good question.
Oscar is bored, that's why.
The 35-year-old with the Colgate smile and The Golden Boy tag is a shrewd, hard businessman who already has enough money tucked away - safely tucked away - to shore up any pending American collapse in the dollar, and he collects another $15 million for this one (minimum), which he will plough into gold or something. Anyway, another few million always comes in handy for a man with a dazzling Puerto Rican wife, but Oscar fights fights because he wants to fight, because he wants the fire in his belly, a feeling he is clearly unable to generate from his role as one of boxing's leading promoters.
He wants to get in there.
Of course getting in there with someone like Antonio Margarito, the monster of a welterweight who could easily move up and accommodate De La Hoya at his natural light-middleweight, or the slick and powerful Shane Mosley, a man who has already beaten him twice, or the young, unbeaten and dangerous WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto, appeals neither to Oscar's boredom nor his business head. He is not that bored. He got away with belting little Steve Forbes around for 12 rounds earlier this year in his native California, a former IBF super-featherweight champion, and something must have 'pinged' in his head and now he gets in there with little Pacquiao, on December 6 in Las Vegas, a man who actually turned pro at light-flyweight (that is not a misprint).
Pacquiao is a great boxer, don't get me wrong. The southpaw Filipino, known as the Bruce Lee of boxing, is quick and sharp and at 5ft 6ins (Oscar is 5ft 10ins) he has shown in the past he knows how to break up bigger opponents, such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar Larios and Nedal Hussein, and he comes off a brilliant 10-round destruction of Chicago's gutsy David Diaz for the WBC lightweight title.
He has also been sparring with the 5ft 10ins Amir Khan.
Trouble is, Pacquiao's pasting of Diaz in Las Vegas in June was his first ever fight at lightweight, after three years at super-featherweight, where he licked Morales and Larios, two years at featherweight, where he licked Barrera, five years at super-bantamweight, where he licked Hussein - need I go on? Or back. Pound for pound, 29-year-old Manny is probably the best figher in the world but he takes on De La Hoya up at 147lbs - at welterweight - and that really is stretching the whole poundage thing.
I thought Manny looked a little chubby faced in the build-up as he desperately bulks up, while De La Hoya is looking lean and mean and so much bigger, boiling down, of course. Oscar was down to welterweight by mid-November and will enjoy a real advantage in strength on the night to match all the physical advantages he will enjoy in natural weight, size and reach, including a six inch reach advantage. Moreover, Pacquiao has struggled in the recent past with an unheralded Mexican stylist by the name of Juan Manuel Marquez, a smooth-boxing, sharp-hitting, punch-picking, long-armed stylist very much in the De La Hoya mould who looked desperately unlucky to drop a split decision to Pacquiao earlier this year in Las Vegas. It was a fight De La Hoya promoted, a super-featherweight fight.
De La Hoya struggled himself with an unheralded German stylist by the name of Felix Sturm back in June 2004 in Vegas but he came through on a unanimous decision and picked up the WBO belt in the process - the WBO middleweight belt. He also fought Bernard Hopkins at the weight two years later, one of the greatest middleweights of all time, and his three fights since have occurred at light-middleweight, one of them a dazzling six-round stoppage of Nicaraguan wild man Ricardo Mayorga. He hasn't had far to boil down.
Anyway, you're getting the point about the size difference but this is a scary match and the point needs making, over and over. On such a theme, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, has barked a whole series of bold predictions to the press favouring his man (Pacquiao has said virtually nothing) and seems to be genuinely irked by the presence of 87-year-old Angelo Dundee in Team De La Hoya, but every time one looks at it one sees big welterweight vs small lightweight - a mismatch, as simple as that, and over 12 rounds, too.
A good big 'un always beats a good little 'un.

Great post, Bennie.....

[scartissue]

A dynamite team and two of the nicest guys you could ever meet: Dan Hanley Jr and Sr.

Dan, It was really nice meeting you and your Pops. He's a great guy. I think I can speak for all the guys here that have lost their dads that it's great thing that you do for him. He was really enjoying himself. Jeri said he reminded her of her own father.

Randy

AMEN!!!! Dan's Pop's is the bomb! He is the Patriarc of our group each year.

-Rick

Thanks, Randy and Rick. Y'know, this is the man that introduced the sport to me. Man, I remember watching the fights with him during the 60s just to be around him and lo and behold I developed an insatiable thirst for the sport. So, as long as he's able I'm going to keep him in shape for the WBHF. Incidentally Rick, Pops conveys his regards to you in his own colorful way. He tells me yesterday, "Tell Rick I said, 'How's your balls?" You've got to picture that in his thick Irish brogue. And of course, the proper answer to that question when he asks me that is, "Still hangin' right where I left them, Pop!"

Scartissue

[Chuck1052]

As someone who has moved from Montana to California shortly before my tenth birthday, I can understand why Antonio Margarito wants to remain in Tijuana if he is living in a decent home located in a good neighborhood. He may enjoy a certain way of life and living close to relatives and friends. If he lived in Beverly Hills or Malibu, all of that may go away. Moreover, he has consider the differences in the cost of living even being in a higher income bracket.

- Chuck Johnston

[kikibalt]

Photo and caption by Dan


That's me with Andy 'Kid' Heilman

[kikibalt]

Jerry Quarry

[dagosd2000]

As someone who has moved from Montana to California shortly before my tenth birthday, I can understand why Antonio Margarito wants to remain in Tijuana if he is living in a decent home located in a good neighborhood. He may enjoy a certain way of life and living close to relatives and friends. If he lived in Beverly Hills or Malibu, all of that may go away. Moreover, he has consider the differences in the cost of living even being in a higher income bracket.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck
Sorry I missed you at the banquet.

I think the reason Tony lives in Mexico is because he's "puro Mexicano". He loves TJ. He grew up there,but honestly the neighborhood he lives in (Zona Norte) is dangerous. It's not uncommon for people like him to remain in the same barrio where they grew up.

I talked to Gaspar Ortega who grew up in TJ. I asked him when was the last time he was back. He said two years ago. But he told me he won't be going back. Too dangerous. He talked with my wife about how they lived in close proximity. Him in Colonia Morelos,my wife in Canon Jhonson.

Gaspar has a gym named after him in the Zona Norte. The windows are broken and there's grafitti all over it. It's not in use anymore. I told him of this. I wish now I hadn't. Gaspar won't be going back.

I hope Tony will be all right where he is. There are some very deperate people in TJ today.

[kikibalt]