The KO Digest 2014 Boxing Comeback Fighter of the Year — Miguel Cotto

Cotto's comeback was worth the weight

By Derek Bonnett — Boxing is about ups and downs. The rise of a great fighter is something to behold. His progression through the ranks as a prospect must endure great scrutiny as he responds to different styles, cuts, knockdowns, and, possibly, early defeat. The boxer raises his game to the next level and tops dangerous spoilers, former world champs, and fellow contenders - all he has left to do is deliver on that initial promise and become a world champion, right?

Wrong.

Boxing is a highly complex sport filled with complicated rankings, officiating, scoring, promotion, and expectation. Each time any given prizefighter advances himself to the next level, the rules change. Getting to the top is no longer the desired objective contrived by the fans for their ring hero.

No, it's far more dramatic than that. You see, boxing at its best often mirrors romantic comedy at its worst. Getting the girl isn't enough. Losing her and getting her back, that's the real story. With boxing, it's the rise, the fall, and the inevitable comeback. Boxing loves to see its marquee losers comeback and win again.

There were doubts after Cotto's loss to Trout

Boxing's history is rich with comeback tales illustrating rematch revenge or a return from retirement. These tales are as sweet as "Sugar" or as "Big" as George Foreman himself. The 2014 boxing year produced a number of fighters who mounted commendable comebacks, but no other return to prominence impacted the sport as much a Miguel Cotto's utter destruction of reigning middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. If 2014 was a year of rebirth for Cotto then 2012 was the year of his slow death. Cotto entered the year on the heels of a gratifying rematch victory over much maligned rival Antonio Margarito. For some, the win was more fool's gold than ring substance, but it served exorcize a great demon for the Puerto Rican star and set him up for the biggest fight of his career. Cotto's 2012 challenge of Floyd Mayweather Jr. showed glimmers of excellence. After all, fighting Mayweather somewhat close was the equivalent to a moral victory in the eyes of many. Cotto lost without question, but he made it interesting enough to live to fight another day. Cotto followed that fight up with a risky challenge of Austin Trout, a capable stylist still seeking to establish himself as something more than just a divisional titlist. The fight, a back and forth struggle which saw Trout sweeping the early rounds, surrendering the middle, and cleaning up the final frames to earn a unanimous decision, appeared to be a definitive nail in the coffin of Puerto Rico's last superstar.

Roach was the key to Cotto's comeback

When 2013 arrived Cotto's fate look certain: he was a fighter in decline. Even a new ring marriage to Freddie Roach appeared as a last ditch effort to convince the boxing world that Cotto was still viable world title threat. Even with Roach's proven track record, the pairing seemed like a hired gun scenario much like Emmanuel Steward's work with Julio Cesar Chavez. Roach became the much needed weapon to combat the irrefutable fact that Cotto's primary weapons had waned in their impact. The selection of Delvin Rodriguez as a comeback opponent inspired two trains of though: Cotto had fallen so far he needed to meet a fringe contender the level of Rodriguez in order to win and Cotto, at his current state, was in deep against Rodriguez. Ten months after his defeat to Trout, Cotto decimated Delvin Rodriguez in three rounds. Cotto looked imposing inside of the ropes. He reminded some of the powerful body assaulter of his youth. Some credited Roach while others credited a ring-worn and seemingly overmatched and intimidated Rodriguez.

Once again, nothing was certain, even the prospects of Cotto rising to middleweight for a shot at the universally recognized champion Sergio Martinez. Yet on June 7, 2014, Miguel Cotto challenged Martinez for the WBC middleweight championship of the world at Madison Square Garden, Cotto's adopted home arena. Cotto fever was rampant, but it was equally countered by Martinez support.

Regardless, the ease with which Cotto dispatched Martinez was unanticipated.

Behind a short, pumping jab, Cotto set up his right hand and produced three first round knockdowns. The less mobile Martinez looked like the clichéd sitting duck against Cotto's bruising attack. Cotto took away Martinez strengths by cutting the distance on him effectively and crowding him with power shots. Martinez' legs could not carry him to safe harbor against this raging "tiburon." Martinez kept his composure and survive the round, but never found a way to avoid Cotto's left hook from the third round on. The mid-rounds saw Cotto beating Martinez with his jab and forcing the champion to fight off the ropes without his desired space. With hardly a backward step in his road to victory, Cotto drained the will from a champion once celebrated for that very attribute. After dipping toward the canvas in the ninth, Martinez received another count from the referee in spite of summoning the strength to keep his footing. The referee's misjudgment proved elementary though as the accumulated punishment absorbed by Martinez through nine rounds forced a tenth round corner retirement.

Cotto made the best 2014 boxing comeback

For Cotto, the cycle was completed. He lost the girl and won her back in stunning fashion or, in boxing terms, his comeback to prominence in the sport of boxing was realized. Regrettably, Cotto remained idle for the rest of 2014, which put him out of contention for the more glorious Fighter of the Year honors. However, Cotto, 34, arguably posted the most significant victory in the boxing world this year. More importantly to the new middleweight champion, he revitalized the spirit of Puerto Rican boxing, which had atrophied greatly over the last several years. Cotto, 39-4 (32), now eyes a potential Mexican-Puerto Rican showdown with Saul Alvarez likely to be stage in May 2015. Prior to the Rodriguez fight, it was easy to imagine this bout happening, but with Cotto playing the role of the sacrificial lamb being served up to the younger star. Now, as KO Digest's 2014 Comeback Fighter of the Year, Cotto enters a "Canelo" bout with a far different public perception and role; he enters as the champion.

Special recognition goes out to Rocky Juarez, Cornelius Bundrage, and Jermain Taylor for also mounting laudable comeback wins in 2014. 

Photography by Jeffrey Freeman, KOD EIC

KO Digest Interview: Andy Ruiz Jr — “I can be the Mexican Mike Tyson”

The Destroyer looks ahead to 2015

For over a decade, the Klitschkos have reigned supreme over the heavyweight division. But as a new year begins, Wladimir grows one year older and Vitali appears to be retired for good, meaning the time is creeping ever closer to the title door swinging open for another crop of young heavyweights ready to ascend to the throne. Mexicali’s Andy Ruiz Jr. hopes to soon be mentioned in the mix. Defying expectations, Ruiz is still undefeated at 24-0 (17 KO's) and has earned victories over notable names Joe Hanks, Tor Hamer, and Serhei Laikhovich in the last year and a half. Thanks to a promising career start, a hard hitting, heavy-handed style, and also his weight, the 25-year-old Mexican has drawn positive and negative parallels to Chris Arreola. Determined to fight often, fight the best in the division, and increase his fitness while decreasing his weight, 2015 could be a make-or-break year for the Top Rank heavyweight prospect.

KO Digest's Joel Sebastianelli: You’re a good looking prospect rising through the ranks right now, but because you aren’t a star yet, a lot of boxing fans might still be unfamiliar with your story. What makes you different from everybody else in the division? 

Ruiz wins but critics can be cruel

Andy Ruiz Jr: I’m a young heavyweight, I’m 25 years old, and I fight well with a lot of skills. My only problem is my weight. I’m still winning fights, but there are a lot of critics in boxing saying they’re not happy with my weight and that I’m too fat. But to tell you the truth, I kind of agree with them. I do need to change that so I can have them supporting me and so I have to keep training hard.

KOD: How are you addressing the weight issue?

AR: I didn’t really have a personal trainer with me last time because he was in Spain, but he’s going to come back for the next fight. For our next camp, we’re trying to go to Big Bear so we can concentrate on the weight, training, and getting ready to whoop some ass.

KOD: With changes, how different will your fitness regimen be?

AR: I am eating right, doing sprints, lifting weights—but not heavy weights, light weights—explosive stuff. It’s a lot of stuff that Mike Tyson used to do in training. If I can get my body right and get into really good shape, I can be like the Mexican Mike Tyson.

Ruiz spars Holyfield but really wants to be like Tyson

KOD: Clearly Tyson sounds like an inspiration, but when you say “Mexican heavyweight” the first name that comes to mind for most people is Chris Arreola. Is that a comparison that you welcome?

AR: Arreola is a cool guy. The first time I sparred with him I was 16 and the last time I sparred with him was two years ago, so I helped him when I was young. I have nothing bad to say, but we should discipline ourselves more. That’s what I’m getting now. Since I’m young, I have to do it right now before it gets too late like Arreola.

KOD: What did you learn from that experience stepping into the boxing ring with Arreola to spar with him as a teenager?

AR: It was actually good. I was with the Mexican Olympic team, so I was over there trying to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. I must have been 16 or 17 years old so I came over here to Riverside. We ended up sparring and I did really well. They said “man, this kid’s really young. What are you doing, trying to spar?” And my Dad was just telling them “no, I have my son. He can help you out.” We sparred and I did really well. They were so surprised, like, “what the heck? Where did this kid come from?” It was a very good experience, it was fun, and I learned a lot. I’m still learning at this stage and I need to keep going and keep training hard to get where I want to be.

KOD: Not only have you sparred with Arreola, but you sparred with MMA star Andrei Arlovski. 
How different was it sparring with somebody whose background is in MMA? 

Ruiz has a few extra pounds to sweat away

AR: It was actually easy, to tell you the truth. He was trying to fight and it was at my house, in a boxing ring. It was kind of easy, but he was a cool guy and I have nothing bad to say about him. If it was the other way around and I was in the Octagon, it would be different though. I was over there with Freddie Roach and after I sparred with Arreola I started sparring with James Toney’s sparring partners when Roach was training him. My Dad used to be a promoter and he used to have Jorge Paez Jr. We went to Hollywood with Freddie Roach and he was going to spar Pacquiao and I was in the mix too. My Dad said “hey, I have my son. He’s a heavyweight, 16, 17 years old and he can spar with James Toney.” I was a little nervous because I was young and I was sparring these already pro guys, but they let me spar with his sparring partners. That’s when everything changed. I earned respect and everyone asked who the hell this kid was that was beating up Toney’s sparring partners. That's how things started with Roach.

Ruiz is a family man with two kids

KOD: You have plenty of experience and success in the amateur ranks, but your style doesn’t seem like it goes hand-in-hand with the amateur fighting style. What were your positive and negative takeaways from the amateurs?

AR: It was kind of hard because of the system. A lot of people were cheating, like the judges. The pros are a different game. In the pros, you can get hurt and you’re actually risking your life, so you have to go 120 percent. This boxing thing is not a joke and we have to come prepared. There is a big difference between the amateurs and the pros, but amateurs are where we planted the seeds and now it’s growing. We’re in the pros and have to do the best we can with it.

KOD: That was then, but now, you’re coming off a good win against Siarhei Liakhovich although you did hurt your hand in the fight. How are you feeling now, what is the condition of your hand?

AR: It feels good, but it’s still a little swollen. I’ve been taking ibuprofen the hospital gave me and it’s getting better. It’s not broken—it’s nothing. They’re talking about me fighting in China again at the end of March, so that gives me a few months.

KOD: There are not a lot of big names on the first part of your career resume. However, you’ve recently fought and defeated Joe Hanks, Tor Hamer, and Liakhovich. What has been the toughest fight of your career so far?

Ruiz has two title belts already

AR: My toughest fight was [Liakhovich] December 20th. I went through how to win because of hurting my hand in the early rounds. It was hard to adjust while I was fighting. I couldn’t throw my combinations and be fast. I had to use the jab and work through the pain. I don’t know if he hit me in my ribs when I was leaning down, but I had this thing in my ribs. It was difficult. I hung in there.

KOD: You had a very strong amateur career and you’ve been trained by Freddie Roach. How has Freddie helped your boxing career?

AR: That’s where I started my whole pro career and it was an honor working with him. I loved working with Freddie. I’d love to work with him again. We’ve talked before that he would love for me to go back, but it’s all up to my manager and promoter. I'd love to move back to Hollywood and train with Freddie.

KOD: Who are the important people behind you helping to move you forward? 

AR: My manager is Joe Gagliardi, he’s some Italian guy from San Jose, California. My trainer is Jeff Grmoja, a tall guy—he’s 6’7” tall like the Klitschkos. My Dad, of course, Andy Ruiz Sr., and Bob Arum promotes me. Fidel Ponce is my assistant. They’re the main people behind me. There’s no reason to have an entourage and so many people just trying to be all up in the mix.

KOD: Liakhovich was once a WBO champion and defeated Lamon Brewster close to a decade ago. That was a long time ago, but now that you’ve been in the ring with somebody of that caliber, do you feel you’re ready to move up in the heavyweight ranks? 

AR: Absolutely. I think I should. As long as I actually go out of Las Vegas and go to a camp and get mentally prepared there and do everything that I have to do, of course. I think I could be better than those other guys that are up there.

KOD: You think you “could” be better, but obviously you’re still growing as a fighter at 24-0. 
Where do you think you rank in the division right now? What’s your top goal for 2015?

AR: To prove to the world who I am, what I can do. All the guys that are up there I would fight. I want to prove myself against elite fighters. Tyson Fury, the Klitschkos, Wilder, Stiverne—all the guys who say they're the best are the guys I want to fight. I rank myself fighting Stiverne, Wilder, or the Klitschkos right now. That’s what I’m trying to do. I proved a lot of people wrong, a lot of people underestimated me, thinking I was going to lose against Hamer, Hanks, or Liakhovich, but I’m still winning. I have the WBO intercontinental title and the NABF. I should get the opportunity they promised to me in 2015. Hopefully we do it.

The Future of Boxing

KO Digest Interview conducted by Joel "The Future" Sebastianelli

Joel joined KO Digest in January 2013 and has been a fixture on press row in the New England area for three years. In 2012, he served as the host of “The Boxing Fix” on Leave it in the Ring Radio. Sebastianelli is the future of boxing journalism and broadcasting.

Joel can be found Tweeting on Twitter @JJSebastianelli  

KO's Ringside Boxing Notes & Quotes III

Krusher Kovalev gets the last laugh in Atlantic City

By Jeffrey Freeman, KO Digest 

Boxing fans are being sold a bill of goods but the goods they're buying aren't all that good, in fact lately they've been little more than predictably uncompetitive mismatches. Some recent examples of this trend include: Sergey Kovalev 120-106 Bernard Hopkins, Manny Pacquiao 120-102 Chris Algieri, Wladimir Klitschko KO5 Kubrat Pulev, Gennady Golovkin KO2 Marco Antonio Rubio, Terence Crawford 120-108 Ray Beltran, Keith Thurman 120-107 Leonard Bundu, Amir Khan 120-108 Devon Alexander, and Adonis "Superman" Stevenson KO5 Dmitry Sukhotskiy. Boxing should be better than glorified sparring sessions. Who's to blame for these shutouts and wipeouts? Is it matchmakers, promoters, and "advisers" or the fans who willingly sop it all up with a biscuit? Not every match-up has to be a war for legacy like Marvin Hagler KO3 Thomas Hearns or Juan Manuel Marquez KTFO6 Manny Pacquiao IV but the fight game under Al Haymon's direction is getting stale and stagnant.

Judging The Judges — In order to comprehend the subtle complexities that go into the scoring of big-time professional boxing matches by judges who get paid to do their jobs, one should think in terms of the fine-tuned calibration of casino slot machine payouts and the "social game" aspects of how players are voted off the long-running CBS TV-reality show Survivor. Understand how these two elements work together to produce "favorable" results and you can almost always tell who the judges will favor in a close fight or who they will be inclined to favor to balance the scales of "justice" for boxing's powerful paymasters and well paid power brokers.

Is Mayweather looking for Pacquiao at ringside?

The Defense Rests — Boxing's artful dance is the skilful science of hit and don't get hit. More than anything besides punching the other guy's lights out if you can, pugilism is defined by defense. The avoidance of contact. Protect yourself at all times. The true craft of the Sweet Science is the manly art of self-defense. Willie "Will o' the Wisp" Pep, Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker, and "Slapsie" Maxie Rosenbloom. These are the frustrating names conjured when considering the defensive masters of prizefighting. Floyd Mayweather is today's wonderful wizard of withstanding. It's his defining characteristic in fights and in choosing opponents. If there was a way to quantify how little impact Floyd has endured from boxing compared to the all-time greats who ducked and dodged damage before him, surely "Pretty Boy" would rate with the best of boxing's avoiders.

Will Mayweather fight Manny for the money? 

KO's Boxing INBOX — "Do you believe that one of Floyd's overlooked strengths is his ability to recognize pure talent and ability, and how he might deal with it? You and I both know that boxing often comes down to more than talent, ability, conditioning and athleticism. The intangible can trump all other aspects under the right circumstances. It's not something that can be put into clear terms or on paper. Might Floyd perceive this in a way most others cannot, and if so, might there be something he sees in Pacquiao that makes him hesitant to step to it for 80 million dollars? I cannot help but wonder about a guy who claims to have had "no problem" bettering Pernell Whitaker, time and again, in the gym, as an amateur (among a host of other celebrated names) yet won't clear up this outstanding business. In the purest sense, Pac is Frazier to Floyd's Ali. Can you imagine Ray Leonard opting to hand Larry Bonds a rematch rather than facing Thomas Hearns in 1981? Floyd essentially did that last September when he should have been challenging Pac or Cotto." — Mike P.

Regarding Floyd, I do believe that his timing and defensive style inside the ring are a perfect metaphor for these same traits that he exhibits outside the ring managing his career. More than just winning fights and cashing big checks, Money Mayweather sets his own schedule and so accordingly, he is not subject to the brutal whims and unavoidable cruelties that boxing can more easily inflict on lesser influential fighters. It's still a dangerous dance and Floyd does in fact risk it all every time he steps in with men like Cotto and Maidana but he's got all the "champion's advantages" consolidated and amplified in a way that make it slighter safer for him to shake his groove thing. As for Manny, I really think Mayweather "fears" him in the same way Sugar Ray "feared" the dangerous Aaron Pryor but not because he feels inferior as a fighter but rather because he is worried that Manny (like Pryor) would do anything (or put anything in his body) to win, and so that (health) risk for $80 million is avoided when there are ways to make the same purse fighting opponents who can be more easily manipulated and controlled. Coming up from flyweight to welterweight as Pacquiao did while carrying his power and riding a wave of brutal beatdowns is not only suspicious to Mayweather, it should raise eyebrows to anyone who has ever believed in so-called sports heroes like Lance Armstrong and Alex Rodriguez. — Thanks for writing, KO.

Garcia likes good media and bad media

Light Welterweight Champion Danny "Swift" Garcia talks to KO Digest before facing Rod Salka last August: "Ratings, rankings and what people think doesn't matter. Good media is good media and bad media is still good media. As long as people are paying attention, it makes me relevant. My fans back me up no matter what. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be a world champion, face tough fighters and beat them. If you don't like it you still have to respect it."

KO's Boxing INBOX II — "Wladimir Klitschko. I am formulating him into my perception of the top all-time heavyweight kings, and he fits right in there. Head to head is always a different matter that few seem able to comprehend (versus historical significance). How do you see Klitschko (the Wlad of last month versus Kubrat Pulev) doing with prime Ali (1967), Holmes (1979) Tyson (1988) Lewis (2000) Bowe (1992) Frazier (1971) Louis (1938-1941-ish) and Marciano (title reign version) and Holyfield (1996)?" — Mike P.

Klitschko entertains with a KO of Pulev

The Wlad who destroyed Pulev in 5 is a problem for any of those heavyweights and his size has a lot to do with that but also because he has mastered the art of protecting himself, of not losing fights, and of defending the heavyweight title. Klitschko, 38, turns the idea of a "prime" on its ear. He shows that boxing is about evolving (past your novice defeats) to the point of "unbeatable" greatness if you can achieve it. Those great champions you listed all liked to fight. Wlad is a different animal. He likes to defend himself and his title. He is a chess player. Avoidance of checkmate is primary.

If Wlad defeats a few more top heavyweights and retires as champion, he's demonstrably top ten, maybe even top five, hell maybe even #1—but try telling that to biased American boxing fans (and media) who can't accept we lost the Cold War, that Rocky 4 was BS (but only because Rocky won in Russia), and that heavyweight boxing is "alive and well" and doing much better globally than it was ever doing in just America during the 70's, 80's, and 90's we all cling to as the gold standard. When Muhammad Ali fought Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium in New York City, know what they had there? Empty seats. They don't have those when Wladimir fights "bums" in Europe. Wlad K is indeed an all-time great, heavyweight boxing is doing better than ever, and it's America that's in decline and slipping in relevance, not the heavyweight championship of the world, that's for sure. — Thanks for writing, KO.

Chavez was vicious

Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs Fires on KO Digest Interview — "I'm active, pumped up, and fired up now more than ever. Everything happens for a reason, and you know what? I’m the Black Cinderella Man. I’m going to shock the world and get a fight with this bum Klitschko and knock his face off."

Comebacking Victor Ortiz appears to have lost his mind, declaring to the boxing media — "I want to be the pound for pound king. I know what it takes to get there. I will be one of the greats like Mayweather or Julio Cesar Chavez, I just don’t know when. I have been told by a lot of people to hang it up, but I make my own decisions and I am going to keep boxing. It's what I love to do. I never lost any confidence in myself."

Believe it when you see it

Money Mayweather Talks — "I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao. The fans and the people have been fooled. Bob Arum is the one stopping the fight. We want the fight. Let's make it happen. May 2nd. Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao, let's do it. He's not on my level. I wanna go out with a bang. Pacquiao, Arum, you guys have been ducking us for years. We're tired of you fooling the public and critics. Cinco de Mayweather!"

Undefeated American heavyweight contender Deontay Wilder addresses the notion on media conference call that his entire boxing career (32-0, 32 KO's) has been carefully choreographed — "The things I do, it makes the eyes don't believe and the mind definitely plays tricks on you. On the outside of the ring, you see one thing but on the inside of the ring it's a whole different thing, it's almost like a magic trick. It's unbelievable that how in the world does it happen like that? On January 17th, we'll see what's choreographed for sure."

WBC heavyweight champ Bermane Stiverne warns Deontay Wilder to beware of B. Ware — "I'm not an entertainer or a promoter like my opponent. It's going to be a short painful night."

KO's Ringside Boxing Notes & Quotes II

It's actually a lot harder than it looks

By Jeffrey Freeman, KO Digest

Los Manos De Las Bombas — Worcester, Massachusetts' own Edwin "La Bomba" Rodriguez has been cast to play the role of Roberto "The Hands of Stone" Duran in the upcoming Hollywood film "Bleed For This" about the life and boxing career of Rhode Island's Vinny "The Pazmanian Devil" Pazienza. Rodriguez recently stopped Derrick "Superman" Findley in the first round, and he made headlines last year by challenging Andre "Son of God" Ward as well as for his intimate connection to the Boston Marathon Bombing. Rodriguez broke the boxing bomber's rib in sparring before Tamerlan Tsarnaev went on to become a child murdering Islamic terrorist in 2013. Edwin's second son (of God) was born April 15, the day of the attack which killed four and maimed many more. KO Digest salutes Rodriguez for his role in the film and for his role in making Tsarnaev suffer before he died.

Heavyweight Championship Checkmate — The 2014 version of Wladimir Klitschko is the most unbeatable heavyweight champion in boxing history. American fans and their biased media don't want to hear it and it makes them upset to read it but search your feelings, you know it to be true. Dr. Steelhammer has mastered the art of defending himself and the world heavyweight title for all times.

Got Any Excuses Tonight Doctor Steelhammer? — Now that 46 year old "Malted Milk Dud of Malice" Antonio Tarver has handily defeated Johnathon Banks (TKO7) the head trainer of World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko, it makes many dollars and perfect sense that the champ would now add Tarver to his American title defense schedule which tentatively includes the possibility of Bryant Jennings and Shannon Briggs. Forget all that bullshit now because "By-By" is too small, "The Cannon" is all talk, and neither one of them has beaten Klitschko's trainer into submission like Mason Dixon did last week on ESPN2. The time for Klitschko vs Tarver is upon us. Can "The Line" become boxing's oldest heavyweight champion? Will Wladimir get revenge for Mr. Banks?

KO Digest ringside photography, circa 1980

KO's Throwback Thursday: I snapped this classic picture of hometown hero Marvin Hagler in July 1980 at Brockton High School where Hagler was doing a training exhibition in the gymnasium that included some sparring with his half-brother Robbie Sims. Also in the photo (on the right) is the late Goody Petronelli. Several years later I got it autographed by the Marvelous One.

Bernard Hopkins' Alien Language — "I want the best. Hagler fought the best. Ray Leonard fought the best. The Ali's of the world, they fought the best. I'm from the era where I fought the best. That's important to me. I didn't bloom by the timing of the experts. The sweet science is not based on only one thing you can do particularly well. I don't want to be on the pound for pound list because that would make me human. You guys are all humans. I understand you but you don't understand me. I'm walking on a tightrope hundreds of feet in the air. I don't know what type of evidence I need to show I'm an alien."

"The Alien" explains to the media why he's not more popular or well loved in America for his accomplishments in boxing at age 49 — "It's because I'm black. What do you think if my name was Stern or Marciano? Don't you understand the conflict of interest?"

The face of boxing

Floyd "Money" Mayweather speaks to the international boxing media in 2012 on mandatory, random drug testing in boxing: "I'm the face of boxing. I have totally changed the sport of boxing and I'm the reason why people don't talk about heavyweights anymore. I'm doing record breaking numbers. Since I'm the face of the sport, I should always be trying to change the sport and make the sport a lot better. The best thing is to always put every man on an even playing field. Manny Pacquiao should be standing behind me and saying we should clean up the sport and that he's a clean athlete. I'm letting the world know that Floyd Mayweather is a clean athlete. Eventually random blood and urine testing will be a part of boxing, I truly believe that, and everyone will say Mayweather was the first one. I'll be a part of history and a part of cleaning up the sport."

KO's Boxing Rant — Lately, boxing looks transparently fixed. 2014 saw witness to the most obvious "dive" I've seen in 30+ years of following the sport (Wilder KO1 Scott, pure farce between good friends) and in my 4+ years covering it as a journalist. Robberies are becoming the norm not the exception. But understand one thing: bad decisions aren't "ruining" boxing. They're a key part of it, and always have been. The perpetrators are simply growing bolder in the face of diminished resistance to their shenanigans. These "results" are clear evidence of the direction the fight game is being taken by men like Al Haymon, Oscar De La Hoya, and Bob Arum. The boxing "cold war" feels hotter than ever when promotional affiliation all too often assures an unfair advantage in judge's scoring. 

The KO Digest 2014 Prediction of the Year on RingTV Ask The Experts: 

THE CALL:

Originally published on RingTV.com: "This match-up looks like a tale of two fighters going in opposite directions. The up-and-comer is David Lemieux and the prospect of him tangling with Gennady Golovkin is enticing. Gabe Rosado is a tough guy with a great chin and we all know this. But he loses the big ones, is out of his element at middleweight and the losses are piling up. Look for a competitive, high-contact, action fight. Look also for Rosado to gradually wear the effects of it on his face in the form of cuts and swelling. When it all gets too grotesque and the traffic too one-way, the referee will stop the fight in the tenth round."

King Rosado couldn't see it coming but KO did

THE RESULT:

David Lemieux TKO10 Gabe Rosado — The King was outclassing the Canadian for the first two rounds and then the brick-fisted power of Lemieux found its way home in the third. Rosado was knocked down hard from a power punch left hook to the eye and he took a long 8-count. A badly swollen Gabe Rosado came back strong in the fourth to energize the Barclays. Referee Willis took Rosado to see the doctor before the seventh began, he looked like Arturo Gatti. As it went on, Rosado boxed, Lemieux pressed. The doctor made Rosado count fingers to begin the eighth, and he actually did BETTER (more accurate) than Gatti vs Wilson Rodriguez. Sensational finish to the ninth with Rosado clipped by a left hook. More eye tests with a flashlight. One-way traffic in the tenth and that's that. The loser looked like Gatti, the winner sounded like him.

Ageless Archie battles The Rock

Age Before Beauty: Boxing's 10 Best "Old" Fighters:

Archie Moore (Oldest WORLD champion into his 40's)
Bernard Hopkins (Oldest unified ABC titlist ever, age 49)
George Foreman (Oldest World Heavyweight Champion, 45) 
Juan Manuel Marquez (Still top rated P4P today at age 41)
Roberto Duran (Beat The Blade Barkley when he was 37)  
Vitali Klitschko (Unbeatable heavyweight at 41)
Evander Holyfield (Didn't retire until he was 51) 
Joe Louis (137 years old when he fought Rocky) 
Muhammad Ali (Pulled off "miracles" in his 30's) 
Bob Fitzsimmons (Won a fight past 50 years old)    

The KO Digest Scoring & Analysis of Mauricio Herrera vs Jose Benavidez

Did Herrera get robbed again?

By Jeffrey Freeman — Hard luck junior welterweight Mauricio Herrera can't seem to catch a break or win an important fight in 2014.  Last March in Puerto Rico, Herrera (21-5, 7 KOs) was victimized by hometown scoring against Danny Garcia in a bid for Garcia's unified 140 lb championship. Herrera lost a controversial majority decision to Golden Boy's "Swift" Garcia that most ringside observers felt he deserved to win. Following that debacle, Herrera won a majority decision over Johan Perez in July. Incredibly, one of the judges, Max DeLuca, scored the Perez bout a draw when by all accounts it looked as though Herrera, 34, was a clear winner. Then last night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Herrera came up short in another key match-up, this time against Jose Benavidez, an undefeated 22-year-old prospect (22-0, 15 KOs) signed with Bob Arum's Top Rank promotions. Boxing's promotional cold war continues to thaw but in the peace process, politics still plays a big part in who gets what and when. KO Digest takes a closer look at the controversial fight, round-by-round, to determine who really won and what the fuss was all about. Was Herrera robbed again? It sure looked that way.

Round 1: Benavidez is taller and fitter than Herrera but looks can sometimes be deceiving. It's a battle of the jabs early in a feeling out round fought with a pace to set the distance between the two boxers in the ring. A snappy one-two from Herrera connects well on the dangling chin of Benavidez. Jabs to the body from Herrera land square in the breadbasket of Benavidez while the younger fighter struggled to find the target with his rangy long punches. (Herrera wins the opening round 10-9)

Round 2: Benavidez starts off the round with slap happy punches at a distance but isn't so happy when Herrera pressures him into the ropes and rakes his body. Benavidez holds on under attack and then resets the distance but can't maintain it or take advantage of it. Herrera's timing with the jab is superior and he has Benavidez covering up on the ropes from punches. Benavidez answered with a strong left hand to the body in the middle of the ring but it wasn't enough to win the round. (Herrera round 10-9)

The jab to the body was a good weapon for Herrera

Round 3: Herrera continued to press the action in the third, disrupting the ability of Benavidez to keep the fight on the outside where he wants it. A close round to call but it was Herrera who was able to do more of what he wanted to do which included a consistent attack to the body. (Herrera round 10-9)  

Round 4: The pattern of the first three rounds kept up in the fourth with Benavidez trying to control the fight on the outside with his jab and reach but Herrera simply refused to stand there and get beat. Herrera is winning the exchanges on the inside and forcing Benavidez to cover up and look uncomfortable while backing up away from a fight. (Herrera round 10-9)   

Round 5: Benavidez was having a good start to the round standing his ground and landing well but a left hook from Herrera put him right back on his bicycle or with his back on the ropes. Herrera's jab to the body was better than Benadvidez's jab to the head, a clear sign of just how well Herrera is timing his opponent and setting him up for rough stuff inside. (Herrera round 10-9)

Benavidez rallied in the sixth and seventh

Round 6: It looked like Herrera was taking the round off but Benavidez still couldn't control the action decisively from his preferred distance and it didn't take Herrera much effort at all to put Benavidez right back on the ropes where he pounded away to the body. In the last minute of the round, Benavidez started landing some solid jabs to the face that opened up Herrera for some effective follow-up flurries. (Benavidez round 10-9)

Round 7: Strong start to the round from Benavidez as he ripped Herrera with combinations in the middle of the ring before going back to the ropes where Herrera's effectiveness was apparently diminishing until late in the round when he roughed up Benavidez well. Close round to call but that's two in a row now for Benavidez. (Benavidez round 10-9)

Herrera was more effective on the inside

Round 8: Familiar pattern with Benavidez trying to box and keep the distance while Herrera puts him on the ropes to work him over.  This dynamic is clearly what Herrera would prefer to have happen and he is winning the battle of wills for position in the ring.  A looping lead right hand from Herrera landed flush to the chin and if there was any question about who won the round, that punch answered it. (Herrera round 10-9)

Round 9: Benavidez controlled the early part of the round with his jab and he ripped a left to the body. That didn't keep Herrera off him or Benavidez off the ropes. From this position, Herrera outworked Benavidez in the trenches to win another round via his dogged persistence. (Herrera round 10-9)

Round 10: Good start for Benavidez who flips the script on Herrera by punishing him along the ropes. This didn't last long and the script was flipped again back in favor of Herrera who did his best work downstairs while Benavidez languished on the ropes only throwing one punch at a time, or just a jab or two when he got off the ropes. Herrera is fighting harder, better, and more effectively. (Herrera round 10-9)

The politics of pugilism at play

Round 11: The championship rounds were deep waters for Benavidez, a prospect who had never previously gone past eight rounds. Even from the outside, Herrera was beginning to out-land Benavidez and on the inside it was no contest, all Herrera. At this point, Herrera has the Benavidez puzzle solved and he's having fun proving it. (Herrera round 10-9)

Round 12: Last stand for Benavidez who was told in the corner by his father that he needed a knockout to win. Entertaining toe-to-toe exchanges and more of the same on the ropes favor Benavidez but to an impartial observer, it looked like a case of too little, too late. (Benavidez round 10-9)

KO Digest scored the fight 117-111 (9-3) for Mauricio Herrera.

Official Scores: 117-111, 116-112, and 116-112 for Jose Benavidez.

KO's Ringside Boxing Notes & Quotes

Tim Bradley says it's a perfect time for Money vs Manny

By Jeffrey Freeman — Timothy 'Desert Storm' Bradley talks to KO Digest about the possibility of a Manny vs Money match in 2015: "I think the fight should happen. I don't know if it will. Now is the perfect time for it because Pacquiao, after suffering the loss to Marquez, the fight with Mayweather went down the drain but Manny has revamped himself with three big wins, myself included. He's still a big threat in the sport, still a top dog, and I honestly think he'll be tough for Mayweather. It's a 50-50 fight. It's the fight everybody wants to see. I think it will do over three million [PPV] buys. We gotta wait and see. It's great for boxing."

Devon Alexander Hits Close To Home — "All of St. Louis is going to be looking at me from the Ferguson situation. They're looking for something positive to come along with all of the rioting. This win is going to make them feel like they won too. You get scrutinized when you come out and say something or it's like you get punished for saying what you feel nowadays or just saying the truth. A lot of people are scared to say anything. You have to be real. You have to tell the truth. You work out the consequences later. If it's the truth and it's real, how can anybody argue with it?"

Color Blind — For me, boxing is, and always has been, a safe haven from the ugliness of racism. It's not about black or white or any other crayon in the box but even when it is about that stuff like in the promotional trash talk of a grudge match, it's OK. Nobody should get their feelings hurt. Just enjoy the show because we have thick skin and the color of it doesn't matter. We all bleed red. Look, I'm from Brockton, Massachusetts. I grew up there in the 1970's during historical periods of social integration. Growing up in a two-toned fight town, I fell in love with Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. I'm better off because of the variety I experienced. It exposed me to the other side of life. Sometimes I liked it more than my side. Soon I realized there was only one side.

Thank God It's Black Friday — It's very trendy and safe right now to paint Floyd Mayweather Jr. as some kind of fighting fraud. Everybody is getting in on the act like opportunistic, bandwagon-riding lemmings. The internet is now literally awash in opinionated exposés thrown up about boxing's dirty little money maker. Distinguishing between fact and fiction is of only minor importance in the mad rush to throw Mayweather under the bus before the big fire sale ends. Whether it's having to do with his attacks on women outside of the ring, his avoidance of Manny Pacquiao inside of it, or even his status as an all-time great in the sport of pugilism, Pretty Boy's P4P & TBE reputation is under siege. There's never been a better, more opportune time to call Floyd a "coward" or worse.

Boom Boom, Big Daddy, and the Prince called to the hall

The Biggest Little City in the World — Youngstown, Ohio's Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini fought four of his last five fights in Reno, Nevada against Bobby Chacon, Livingstone Bramble, Hector "Macho" Camacho, and Greg Haugen. Mancini was recently elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York where in June 2015 he will be officially enshrined. There isn't nearly as much boxing in Reno today as there was in the glorious 1980's. They don't make em' like the "Good Son" anymore either. Mancini is a worthy inductee - one of the classiest sportsmen in boxing history. World War II Combat Vet father Lenny would be very proud of his good son.

What a Yahoo — If fight writer Kevin Iole would refuse to vote Floyd Mayweather into the IBHOF (or encourage others to do the same) based off Mayweather's perceived refusal to fight Manny Pacquiao, maybe somebody should consider taking away Iole's voting privilege because Floyd is a first ballot inductee (so is Manny) TODAY even if he never wins another boxing match and gets knocked out by Victor Ortiz in that rematch Floyd said Victor can get if he wants it. The boxing media should report on the story and not try to make themselves into one. It's understood that passions run deep and that we ALL just want to finally see the damn fight but this latest jab from Iole blurs the line between journalism and partisan fanboyism.

Are Manny and Money getting any closer?

Undisputed Truth — The two top fighters in the sport of boxing are boring. There I said it. Mayweather and Pacquiao are a collective snore. They don't knock anyone out anymore. They refuse to fight each other. They're both past their primes. The sport is full of young stars who deserve the attention forever being wasted on these fat cash cows. I'll name a few: Terence Crawford, Keith Thurman, and Gennady Golovkin. Mayweather can't even make himself all that exciting when he claims to try. The best part of his fights is when he gets hit. He doesn't grit his teeth when he fights, he doesn't challenge himself beyond our imagination, and he's certainly no Sugar Ray Leonard. TBE is still Sugar Ray Robinson. The Pac-Man is more of a fighter and history will be kinder to him but that doesn't change the fact that his fights no longer matter.

The Charlo brothers fight to stay relevant

Twin Troubles — Both Charlo brothers, Jermell and Jermall have seen high profile world title fights fall apart before their eyes. Last March, Jermall was scheduled to challenge Carlos Molina for the IBF junior middleweight title on the Canelo-Angulo PPV undercard. When Molina was arrested and jailed during fight week, the match-up was scrapped. Jermall did not get his shot and his progress has sputtered since. He now faces Lenny Bottai (who?) on the Khan-Alexander undercard, December 13. Then just recently, Jermell was scheduled to face Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade for the WBO version of the 154 lb. championship on that upcoming (ill-fated) Showtime triple-header. Andrade pulled out. Instead of getting his shot, Jermell is now stuck fighting Mario Lozano on the MGM Grand Vegas card alongside his brother.

The Master of Disaster is Dead — For the record, KO scored Manny Pacquiao vs Chris "Rocky" Algieri 119-105 in favor of "The Count of Manny Fisto" who if asked afterwards by the loser, "Hey yo Pac Man, did you give me your best," the truthful answer would have to be no. Boxing's Christ loving, compassionate cash cow strikes again but not nearly as often and as hard as he could have or should have. Did Manny "carry" Chris in China? Maybe, and so too might have Sergey Kovalev "carried" Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City. Hurting grossly overmatched foes is bad for business and it kills future bottom lines. Anyway, Algieri won the fifth and "only" 4 of the 6 official knockdowns were worth an extra point on my card.

Algieri takes a count while Pacquiao waits

I like "The Ring" magazine and their website RingTV. That much I can confess. What I don't much like is their new "RING 100" listing of the best fighters in the world of boxing today. Creeping in at #43 is none other than Chris Algieri. The brave Long Islander is now considered to be one of the fifty best boxers in the world? That's for somebody else to judge but let's take a look at some of the names that somehow rate lower than Algieri according to the Golden Boy's Bible of Boxing: Ruslan Provodnikov (44), Demetrius Andrade (48), Vasyl Lomachenko (52), Amir Khan (53), Keith Thurman (55), Anselmo Moreno (58), Alexander Povetkin (70), Mauricio Herrera (76), Austin Trout (80), James DeGale (89), and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (98).

Respectful boxing warriors

Though overrated by the "Bible of Boxing" the New Yorker Algieri knows how to open a media conference call on Veterans Day with: "Before we get started I'd like to take a moment to pay tribute to the real warriors that are out there on this Veterans Day and give them the honor and tribute they deserve for going above and beyond in fighting for our country and our freedom." (§) KO Digest salutes Algieri's respectful patriotism.

Examining the Experts — What does it say about the expertise of today's boxing writers and media insiders when ZERO out of 21 polled by The Ring Magazine (including yours truly) picked "The Special One" Kell Brook to upset "Showtime" Shawn Porter last August? From where I write, it could mean we saw the 2014 Upset of the Year or that Uncle Roger Mayweather might be right in calling it boxing and swearing you don't know shit about it.

The Correct Spelling Be — You might not have heard of him or you might not even think he deserves a title shot against World Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis Stevenson on Dec. 19 but you and everybody else are willfully misspelling the Russian's name. It's "Dmitry Sukhotskiy" and not "Sukhotsky" without the "i" at the end as reported. Thanks to perfectionist publicist Bob Trieger for clearing it up with the challenger's promoter via passport.

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't

KO Digest Interview Flashbacks — Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko (April 2014) - "If you look at the scale of the markets, it goes up and down. In boxing it's the same. You have some times that are exciting, and some times that are less exciting. It’s always been like that. It's always been in the history of boxing that suddenly some guy just pops up and conquers."

Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs talks to KO in the November 2014 edition of "KO Digest Interview" and wait until you read what he calls Deontay Wilder — "I know people are like, “man, Shannon Briggs is nuts.” But, that’s right! That’s what it takes to become heavyweight champion of the world. Don’t think Wladimir Klitschko ain’t nuts. Don’t think Jack Johnson wasn’t nuts. Don’t think Muhammad Ali wasn’t nuts. We’re a different breed of man. Say what you want, but know one thing: I’m 42 years old, back on my feet and pursuing."

Darnell "Deezol" Boone talks to KO in the Dec. 2013 KO Digest Interview about who would win a Superman Stevenson vs Krusher Kovalev title fight at light heavyweight: "Kovalev, because he’s the more sound boxer. Both of them are strong. It’s going to be whoever lands the shot first, but I would go with Kovalev on that. They both have what it takes to knock each other out. Both of them are strong, but the thing with Adonis is he does the same thing in each fight. Paw with the jab, left. He never really mixes it up. With Kovalev, he’s throwing combinations, he’s moving, punching off angles."

Will the Son of God return in 2015?

The Great 8 — Busiest To Slowest
Linear World Champion's Activity Level

1. Roman Gonzalez (flyweight)
2. Adonis Stevenson (light heavyweight)
3. Wladimir Klitschko (heavyweight)
4. Danny Garcia (light welterweight)
5. Floyd Mayweather (welterweight)
6. Guillermo Rigondeaux (super bantamweight)
7. Miguel Cotto (middleweight)
8. Andre Ward (super middleweight)

Desert Storm: Tim Bradley knows why he lost the Manny Pacquiao rematch

Pac-Man Gets Rematch Revenge

By Jeffrey Freeman — On-again-off-again, Vegan American Timothy Bradley didn't really win the first time he faced off against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas two years ago or during their sin city rematch last April but he's moving on from that traumatic 24-round experience. "I'm glad it's over. I can't take anything away from Pacquiao," Bradley told KO Digest in promotion for his return from the defeat. Bradley is now charging head-first into a bout of dirty boxing against Argentine mauler Diego Chaves, 23-2, 19 KO's, on Dec. 13 at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. It's an HBO televised comeback for "Desert Storm" and he is in the right frame of mind and body for Chaves. That again includes eating meat and fish in training. "I learned a lot in the Pacquiao fights, you learn more from losing battles than from winning. I learned not to beat myself in the ring and not to be someone that I'm not. I'm going back to the drawing board, to my boxing and my speed."

Watch out for Diego's dirty tactics Tim

Bradley has also studied the videotapes and he knows that Chaves is a "very dirty fighter" who he believes, "hates getting hit to the body." Known for using his head as more than just a hat-rack, Bradley's "thinking cap" is firmly where it belongs. "I've got some dirty tricks of my own," warned Bradley, a talented technician who can brawl or box as he showed against Ruslan Provodnikov and Juan Manuel Marquez respectively. Chaves is "no slouch" according to Bradley but he's clearly a notch or two below the pound-for-pound star's recent competition. A well-prepared and well-focused Bradley should probably be able to tear Chaves apart like a hungry black bear devours a wild salmon.

But then what? Hibernation while he waits for boxing's cold war to thaw?

The California native's future options are not so clear yet but Team Bradley did float the possibility of challenging "Special One" Kell Brook for the IBF 147 lb. crown while also staying focused on the task at hand. "For this Chaves fight, I gotta do me, be me, do what got me to the top. I have to fight the best I possibly can and win the fight."

Last time out, Bradley officially lost to Pacquiao by way of a more unanimous decision and the pair went their separate ways with an air of mutual respect and understanding with regard to what actually transpired between them in two title fights. "Pacquiao is one of the true fighters, one of the greats and he'll be remembered for a long time when he retires. He's a living legend, a fantastic person in and out of the ring, much respect to him." In hindsight, Bradley, 31, makes no illusions about their controversial 2012 fight which he won by stunningly awful split decision. Unless the entire boxing world was under a collective state of mass-hypnosis, we all saw the same thing no matter the scores—Pacquiao was too much Pacquiao for Bradley to handle, and just too good for him to beat. 

"I can't worry about judges and I can't worry about decisions," Bradley wisely concluded moving forward. 

Bradley's early attack backfired against Pacquiao

And so Bradley, 31-1, 12 KO's, now looks ahead to the future while he still looks back on the past in order to learn from it. We asked the now former WBO welterweight champion to break down how and why he believes he lost the April 2014 rematch to Pacquiao. Here's what Bradley told KO Digest:   

"I went in with the mindset that I had to knock him out in order to win. That threw me off my game. The plan was to outbox Pacquiao and everybody knew it, even Pacquiao. I didn't do that. I went straight at him. I attacked him. I did have some success on attack but I could have been a lot better in the late rounds if I had taken my time and just tried to outbox him. I should have stayed true to myself and true to my abilities and I should have been all right in that ring. It should have been OK man. I got a little out of my context."

The Sweet Side of the Sweet Science — Women's Boxing Monthly Vol 18

Tragedy strikes our sport in South Africa

By Mark A. Jones — On October 10, aspiring South African light-welterweight professional boxer, Phindile Mwelase entered the ring for the fourth time seeking her first victory against six-fight veteran Liz Butler. However, Mwelase was knocked out by her more experienced foe in the sixth round of a scheduled eight. Tragically, after the bout it was discovered that Mwelase had sustained bleeding on the brain that required emergency surgery; subsequently, she slipped into a coma from which she never recovered. On October 25 at a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, she died of the injuries that she sustained in the contest, she was 31. Reuters quoted the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, who stated, “She joined a sport that is predominately male, and was proving that women can also succeed in boxing.”

Rest in Peace Mwelase

To date, the death of Mwelase is the second ring-death of a female boxer. The first such tragic happening was in April 2005 when American amateur boxer Becky Zerlentes died of injuries sustained in a knockout loss.

The final boxing record of Phindile Mwelase stands at (0-3-1).

The 2014 Elite Women’s World Boxing Championships will be held from November 16-25 in Jeju, South Korea. This year 337 female athletes from 74 nations will compete in ten weight classes making the eighth edition of the event the largest in the tournament’s history and the first since the 2012 Olympic Games. The inaugural tournament was held in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2001. Nineteen year old middleweight (165-pound) Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields leads the 10-women USA squad. She is looking forward to avenging her only amateur loss to Savannah “The Silent Assassin” Marshall of Britain in the second-round of the 2012 tournament. Katie Taylor (Ireland) the Gold Medalist at lightweight (132-pounds) weight division at the 2012 Olympic Games will look to win her fifth-in-a-row world title at the games. 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist at flyweight (112-pounds) Nicola Adams will not compete at Jeju due to a shoulder injury.

#SweetSideOfTheSweetScience

Team USA Participants:

108- Alex Love (Army)
112- Marlen Esparza (Houston)
119- Christina Cruz (New York City)
125- Tiara Brown (Fort Myers)
132- Queen Underwood (Seattle)
141- Destiny Chearino (Warwick)
152- Danyelle Wolf (San Diego)
165- Claressa Shields (Flint)
178- Heidi Henriksen (St. Louis Park)
178+ Krystal Dixon (New Rochelle)

Looking At Female Heavyweight Boxing:

The heavyweight division in women’s boxing has been unstable since the retirement of Natascha Ragosina (22-0, 13 KOs) in 2009. On November 6 in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia, Lisa Marie Vizaniari, 269 ¾, of Gold Coast, stopped American southpaw Kathy Rivers, 180, in the tenth round winning the vacant WIBA heavyweight title. Rivers suffered a knockdown from a well-placed right cross, mid-way into the final round. After rising from the canvas on unsteady legs, Rivers was unable to endure the onslaught of heavy punches that were accurately delivered by Vizaniari prompting the referee to cut short the contest just two seconds prior to the final bell. With the win, Vizaniari, 42, not only gave the heavyweight division a needed shot in the arm, but moved her undefeated record to (8-0, 4 KOs) whereas Rivers, 47, in her first bout in 7 ½ years, showed well but dips to (14-6-3, 5 KOs). Hopefully, both fighters stay active in the heavyweight division adding much-needed depth to a weight class in sore need of capable fighters.

In other heavyweight action, on November 8 at the Longshoremen’s Hall in San Francisco, California, Martha Salazar, 235, pounded out a ten-round unanimous decision victory (100-90 x3) over New York’s Tanzee Daniel who scaled 252 pounds for the contest. With the win, Salazar secured the vacant WBC World female heavyweight title. It was the first fight in nearly 19 months for the 44-year-old Salazar (13-4, 3 KOs) who has found it difficult to find opponents in the shallow female heavyweight landscape.

Lamonakis and Ewell are the center of attention

Daniel, 37, drops to (4-4-1, 1 KO) with the loss.

On December 6 in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, in another important heavyweight battle, Sonya Lamonakis (9-1-2, 1 KO) of New York City battles Winston-Salem’s Carlette Ewell (15-7-1, 9 KOs) in an evenly matched ten-round battle for the vacant IBO heavyweight title. The two boxers battled to a six-round, split-draw in New York City in January 2012. Since, Lamonakis has entered the ring five times (3-1-1) whereas Ewell has been inactive.

KO Digest’s Top 5 Heavyweight (168 lbs +):

1- Martha Salazar (USA)
2- Lisa Marie Vizaniari (Australia)
3- Sonya Lamonakis (USA)
4- Carlette Ewell (USA)
5- Kathy Rivers (USA)

Quick Hits for October/November:

Persoon pounds Prazak

In Belguim Delfine Persoon (31-1, 14 KOs) of Roeselare, defended the WBC lightweight title with a ninth round technical knockout over Australian-born, Diana Prazak. At the time of the stoppage, each judge favored Persoon by a wide margin (80-71/80-71/80-72). Prazak, despite the loss, maintains the WBC super-featherweight title. Prazak is a true warrior who in the past two years has faced three elite fighters in Frida Wallberg, Holly Holm, and Persoon.

In Germany Susi Kentikian (34-2, 17 KOs) of Hamburg, defended her WBA World female flyweight title for the fourth time with a ten-round unanimous decision (96-94/97-93/97-94) over Japan’s Naoko Fukioka (12-1, 6 KOs). Fukioka, who previously held world titles at both minimumweight and super-flyweight, was seeking a world title in her third weight class.

In Mexico, Erica Anabella Farias (21-1, 10 KOs) won the WBC World female light-welterweight title with a ten-round, split-decision victory over tough brawler Alejandra Mariana Oliveras (31-3-2, 16 KOs). Two judges preferred Farias 97-94 and 97-93 whereas a third judge ruled in the favor of Oliveras 99-92. With the win, Farias, the former WBC lightweight champion, wins a legitimate world title in a second weight class. Both fighters are of Argentinian descent.

In Mexico two-time bantamweight champion Yazmin Rivas (31-8, 9 KOs) defended her WBC World female bantamweight title for the second time with a ten-round unanimous decision (98-92/98-92/97-93) over Australia’s Susie Ramadan (23-2, 8 KOs).

This bout was a rematch of an October 2011 IBF bantamweight title fight also won by Rivas.

P4P reality TV

In Argentina Yesica Patricia Marcos (25-0-2, 9 KOs) of San Martin, defended her WBA super-bantamweight title with a first round knockout of Mexico’s Estrella Valverde (10-5-2). Marcos is (8-0-1, 4 KOs) in world title fights with the only blemish being a January 2013 ten-round draw with Marcela Eliana Acuna. With another impressive win, Marcos will re-enter the pound-for-pound elite. (§) In Sweden Mikaela Lauren (23-3, 8 KOs) of Stockholm, won the vacant WBC light-middleweight title a razor-thin, majority-decision over former welterweight title challenger Alexsandra Magdziak Lopes (10-3-2, 1 KO) of Marshfield, Massachusetts. Lauren dedicated her title-winning performance to the retired Swedish boxer Frida Wallberg, who she considers being the pioneer of women’s boxing in Sweden.

A Look Ahead To Scheduled Women's Boxing Action:

Chavez or Zamora-Silva?

On November 22 in Mexico City, Ibeth Zamora-Silva (20-5, 8 KOs) of San Cristobal, will make her third defense of the WBC World light-flyweight title when she battles Jessica Chavez (21-3-3, 4 KOs) of Mexico City. Since retaining her WBC Silver light-flyweight title in June 2013 by a narrow unanimous decision victory over Argentina’s Yesica Bopp, Chavez, 23, has dipped her toe into the 112-pound flyweight division. Although posting a (3-0-1) record, she found it difficult to perform to the same level she enjoyed as a light-flyweight. In this fight, Chavez is trimming down to 108-pounds and will look to avenge a six-round decision loss to Zamora-Silva earlier in her career and win a world light-flyweight title for the second time. Zamora-Silva, 25, was overlooked and underappreciated earlier in her career having to fight for the ‘interim’ WBA minimumweight and WBC World light-flyweight titles outside of her home country of Mexico; she posted wins on both occasions. Her coming out party was an October 2013 unanimous decision victory over American Ava Knight, who was widely thought of as a pound-for-pound (P4P) elite fighter at the time. Both Zamora-Silva and Chavez are considered among the P4P best in the sport with Chavez possessing better skills marginally; Zamora-Silva must defy odds yet again to retain her title.

Is Retzke ready for Braekhus?

On November 29 at the Falconer Centeret in Frederiksberg, Denmark, on a Sauerland Promotions card tabbed, “All or Nothing” the “First Lady” of women’s boxing, Cecilia Braekhus (26-0, 7 KOs) places her four world welterweight titles on the line (WBC, WBA, WBO & IBF) when she defends against Berlin, Germany’s Jennifer Retzke (15-1-1, 9 KOs). The 29-year-old Retzke has held minor titles at light-welterweight (GBU) and welterweight (IBO) and in April 2011, knocked out Eva Halasi (TKO-5) to win the IBF light-middleweight title. Braekhus required only three rounds to knockout Halasi in defense of the WBC & WBO World welterweight titles in November of 2010. Retzke is similar in style to Ivana Habazin who Braekhus defeated in September by a wide-margined unanimous decision; the German power puncher is slow and moves in straight lines, but is well conditioned and possesses above average power. Retzke said of her chances against Braekhus, “Cecilia is a great champion but this is my time to shine, “said Retzke. “My training has been going well. I’m in top condition. On November 29, there will be a new undisputed Female World Welterweight Champion. All four belts are coming home with me!''

Braekhus, 33, of Bergen, Norway, will be embarking on her first defense of the unified world welterweight titles by facing the well-decorated Retzke. It will be the fourth start of 2014 for the champion who faced nothing but elite competition as her opponent’s combined 74-8-1 record would indicate. Braekhus said of her stellar 2014 and her upcoming title defense, “I’m in great shape and ready to defend my titles in style, ’’ said Braekhus. To unify the division in my last fight was a dream come true. It’s hard to put into words what that meant to me. There is no way I’m going to let Retzke take these belts away from me. I’ve had a great 2014, and I’m ready to end the year on a high with another victory in Copenhagen.” (§) Braekhus is the consensus current P4P queen of women’s boxing. Her ability to box, pursue, and evade punishment are unmatched in women’s boxing today. Retzke, in any other era, would be considered a formable opponent but will be reduced to a novice amateur unable to lay a serious glove on Braekhus. The champion holds every conceivable advantage in this matchup and will coast to a wide-margined decision victory or late-round stoppage.

Svensson

On the undercard, bold & beautiful emerging superstar, Klara “The Swedish Princess” Svensson (14-0, 5 KOs) of Malmo, Sweden, will defend her interim WBC World female light-welterweight title against the brash Italian slugger, Lucia Morelli (18-4, 8 KOs). In some pre-fight trash-talk, Morelli stated of Svensson, a statuesque blond, that she looks more like a model than a fighter. The 27-year-old Svensson, who in September dispensed some choice language towards fellow Swede Mikaela Lauren when Lauren criticized her ability, said of Morelli, ”That’s a brave comment, ’’ said Svensson. ‘’My first thought when I saw it: I’m going to remodel her face!” Morelli is aggressive and likely the best fighter Svensson will have faced in her blossoming career, but at the age of 35, what does the challenger have left? Morelli has suffered three stoppage losses; two at the fists of Delfine Persoon and one to French slugger Myriam Lamare. Look for Svensson, who is promoted by Sauerland Promotions, to impress.

Morelli

KO Digest’s Top 5 light-welterweight (140 lbs.):

1- Erica Anabella Farias (Argentina)
2- Fernanda Soledad Alegre (Argentina)
3- Alejandra Marina Oliveras (Argentina)
4- Ana Laura Esteche (Argentina)
5- Klara Svensson (Sweden)

Quick Hits for November/December:

On November 21 in San Diego, California, 21-year-old emerging star, Kenia Enriquez (12-0, 6 KOs) of Tijuana, will battle veteran slugger Ana Arrazola (21-10-2, 13 KOs) with the vacant WBO World female flyweight title on the line. The title was recently relinquished by Argentine superstar, Yesica Bopp. Arrazola struggles against A-level competition and is (0-4) in major world title bouts. (§) On December 6, Shindo Go (14-2, 9 KOs) will travel from the friendly confines of Osaka, Japan to Monterrey, Mexico, to fight popular Mexican slugger Arely “Machine Gun” Mucino (20-2-2, 10 KOs) in defense of her WBC World female flyweight title. Go has the all-around boxing skills to out duel the considerable firepower of Mucino, but she must win by stoppage; the challenger, Mucino is the hometown fighter in this matchup. (§) On December 6 in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Jacki Nava (30-4-3, 13 KOs) of Tijuana will defend the WBC World super-bantamweight title and her WBA Super super-bantamweight title when she faces former IBF World female super-bantamweight champion Katy Wilson Castillo (18-1, 11 KOs). This fight will be the third of 2014 for Nava, who returned to the ring in May after a nearly two-year hiatus. Castillo was last in the ring in May 2013, but is tall, rangy, and possesses a big left-hook.

Han wraps in the west Texas town of El Paso

On December 12 in El Paso, Texas, Jennifer Han (11-3-1, 1 KO) of El Paso, looks to become a world title holder for the first time when she battles Nigerian power-puncher, Helen Joseph (12-2-1, 7 KOs). Han is a former amateur standout who is relatively unknown having fought in obscurity, mostly West Texas. In March, Han travel to South Korea to fight for a minor featherweight title and was the victim of one of the worst decisions of 2014 when she lost a ten-round, majority-decision to Ji-Hye Woo (14-2) of Seoul, Korea. Most recently, Han, in her hometown of El Paso, won an eight-round unanimous decision over Christina Ruiz (7-7-3).

KO Digest’s Dynamite Dozen Top 12 P4P: Persoon surges up to #2, Yesica Bopp bumped out with a baby Bopp on the way

Braekhus is the face of women's boxing

1- Cecilia Braekhus 26-0, 7 KOs (Norway)
2- Delfine Persoon 31-1, 14 KOs (Belgium)
3- Marcela Eilana Acuna 42-6-1, 18 KOs (Argentina)
4- Anne Sophie Mathis 27-3, 23 KOs (France)
5- Jackie Nava 30-4-3, 13 KOs (Mexico)
6- Erica Anabella Farias 21-1, 10 KOs (Argentina)
7- Jessica Chavez 21-3-3, 4 KOs (Mexico)
8- Ibeth Zamora-Silva 20-5, 8 KOs (Mexico)
9- Susi Kentikian 34-2, 17 KOs (Germany)
10- Jelena Mrdjenovich 33-9-1, 17 KOs (Canada)
11- Christina Hammer 17-0, 10 KOs (Germany)
12- Diana Prazak 13-3, 9 KOs (Australia/ USA) 

"The Sweet Side of the Sweet Science" is written by women's boxing expert Mark A. Jones -- exclusively for KO Digest. You can find more of Mark's female fight coverage on his women's boxing blog:  Boxing Jones