In
a move that surprised very few, the California Boxing
Commission overturned Chad Dawson's second round "knockout"
over Bernard Hopkins recently. The October 15th Los Angeles
controversy that ended with an injured Hopkins unable to
gain his feet after being dumped to the canvas by Dawson,
left the North Philly native with a separated shoulder and
no title belt. A couple of weeks later the WBC called the
fight a technical draw and restored Hopkins' championship
status. However, that decision was NOT the official ruling
that would impact the fighters' records. Enter California
and their regularly scheduled December 13th meeting. After
their prolonged review of the fight, California called the
debacle a No Decision. A "No Contest" would probably have
been the proper call. But why split hairs? The fight was no
fight, and that's basically what the record will read.
Unfortunately, the WBC has mandated a rematch between the
two light-heavies. Although I'm curious to see the pair
fight to a real finish, I can't imagine it will be very
pleasant (or exciting) to watch.
Danny
Garcia, the 23-year old Golden Boy protégée, becomes the
next Philly fighter to get a world title shot. Garcia,
a Harrowgate Boxing Club product who was signed by De La
Hoya's promotional company form the start of his pro career,
has looked like a class act and future champion from the
beginning. While other recent Philly risers have received
more attention as title threats, Garcia has quietly and
steadily improved his stock and become a real contender. He
defeated his second former champion in October, and did so
with ease. Garcia's title dreams can now be focused on the
WBC junior welterweight crown and all-time great Erik
Morales. Danny faces the Mexican legend on Saturday, January
28 at the Reliant Arena in Houston. The fight will be
televised by HBO. It's a good match for the streaking
Garcia, 22-0 with 14 KOs, and one that he should be able to
win. Morales, 52-7 with 32 KOs, is great, but his best days
were several pounds - and several years - ago. Still "El
Terrible" will always be dangerous, and Garcia will need to
be sharp and ready for the 38-year old. But Garcia is a guy
who has yet to have a bad day - in the ring or in the gym.
He oozes championship pedigree and should make Philly proud
next month.
Former
two-time cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham gets a
chance to take the IBF belt for the third time, when he
faces Yoan Pablo Hernandez in a February rematch. Cunningham
was jobbed in October when his first meeting with Hernandez
was stopped on "cuts" after six rounds and handed to the
challenger on a dubious technical decision. Hernandez did
drop USS Cunningham like a ton of bricks in round one, but
was unable to sink the battleship. The rest of the bout was
all Cunningham - except for the decision. Of course
Steve must return to Germany for the fight, but that is old
hat for the globe-trotting boxer. Given the raw
treatment he received from not only the judges but his own
promotional company as well, Steve would be well-advised to
score a knockout over the lanky southpaw. He did seem to be
wearing the Cuban native down at the time of the first
fight's stoppage, so hopefully he can pick up right were he
left off in October.
Middleweight
Lajuan Simon was dispatched in his try for the middleweight
title last weekebd (12/09/11). WBA champion Gennady Golovkin
made short work of Simon, landing a devastating left hook
that dropped Lajuan for the count. The total elapsed time of
the fight was 2:17. It was an impressive win for the
champion, given that Simon had never been stopped before.
Lajuan is one of Philly's best - and most likable -
fighters. He is also one of our best kept secrets, not
getting a fraction of the press and attention he deserves.
Back in 2009, Simon dropped a close decision to a
then-undefeated Arthur Abraham in his first title try. That
fight was also in Germany and untelevised, like his most
recent outing. Simon's record now reads 23-4-2 with 12 KOs.
It was his second loss in a row. Now he'll have to regroup
and try to pick up the pieces at age 32. Not an easy task
for any fighter.
Camden's
Max Alexander dropped a lopsided 10-round decision to Roy
Jones Jr. last weekend (12/10/11). Alexander was looking at
the fight as a way to re-enter his old "up-and-comer"
status, but Jones still had enough left to out-speed and
outwork the cruiserweight who now lives in North Carolina.
Max still sounded hopeful when I spoke to him a few days
after the bout. He said he felt proud that he could hang in
there with the all-time great, and felt that he gave Jones
enough trouble to make him aware he was in a fight. "I hurt
him in the tenth, and if this was a twelve round fight, I
would have gotten him out of there", Alexander told me. You
have to love the confidence of fighters. "Roy was in shape,
and he was still fast," Max, 14-6-2 (2 KO), said. He also
said that he hopes another high-profile boxer will give him
a shot based on his performance. He'd love to fight Antonio
Tarver.
Former
Canadian lightweight champion Arthur King passed away
December 14th at age 84. King compiled a fine pro record of
63-13 with 20 KOs between 1946 and 1957. Although he fought
most of his bouts in Canada where he was a staple at the
Maple Leaf Gardens, King still has a strong Philadelphia
con-nection. In 1948, infamous Philadelphia manager Blinky
Palermo bought King's contract and assigned his house
trainer Jimmy Wilson to him. Wilson was one of the best
trainers in those days and in King, found much to work with.
The fighter had a excellent boxing skills and looked like a
real title threat. The partnership led to eleven Philly
appearances including local wins over Eddie Giosa at Shibe
Park and Calvin Smith at Toppi Stadium. King also faced
Paddy DeMarco, Joe Micelli, Chico Vejar, Tiger Jones, Teddy
Davis and Del Flanagan as a pro. Arthur King was born
February 23, 1927. He died Wednesday in his native Toronto,
after years of declining health.
Donald
"Red" Ryder also passed away recently. The North Philly
flyweight had much success as an amateur in the 1940s. He
placed second in the 1946 Silver Gloves tournament. He
returned the following year (1947) and again placed second
in the same competition. After an uneventful 1948, Ryder
returned in 1949 to give the Diamond Belt tournament a try.
Ryder once again was the runner up. Three major amateur
tournaments with three second place finishes. A fine
accomplishment albeit frustrating to get so close to the
top. His amateur run led to a brief professional career
(1-6) between 1949 and 1954. Red Ryder fought four of his
six bouts in Philly at the Arena, Cambria and the Met. He
also fought once in Atlantic City. His biggest pro start
probably came in his second fight when he was stopped by
Frankie Sodano in two rounds. Ryder's lone professional
victory came in his very next outing when he halted Tommy
Chiorano in two rounds in Atlantic City. Ryder died on
November 25th.
In
a move that surprised very few, the California Boxing
Commission overturned Chad Dawson's second round "knockout"
over Bernard Hopkins recently. The October 15th Los Angeles
controversy that ended with an injured Hopkins unable to
gain his feet after being dumped to the canvas by Dawson,
left the North Philly native with a separated shoulder and
no title belt. A couple of weeks later the WBC called the
fight a technical draw and restored Hopkins' championship
status. However, that decision was NOT the official ruling
that would impact the fighters' records. Enter California
and their regularly scheduled December 13th meeting. After
their prolonged review of the fight, California called the
debacle a No Decision. A "No Contest" would probably have
been the proper call. But why split hairs? The fight was no
fight, and that's basically what the record will read.
Unfortunately, the WBC has mandated a rematch between the
two light-heavies. Although I'm curious to see the pair
fight to a real finish, I can't imagine it will be very
pleasant (or exciting) to watch. 
Danny
Garcia, the 23-year old Golden Boy protégée, becomes the
next Philly fighter to get a world title shot. Garcia,
a Harrowgate Boxing Club product who was signed by De La
Hoya's promotional company form the start of his pro career,
has looked like a class act and future champion from the
beginning. While other recent Philly risers have received
more attention as title threats, Garcia has quietly and
steadily improved his stock and become a real contender. He
defeated his second former champion in October, and did so
with ease. Garcia's title dreams can now be focused on the
WBC junior welterweight crown and all-time great Erik
Morales. Danny faces the Mexican legend on Saturday, January
28 at the Reliant Arena in Houston. The fight will be
televised by HBO. It's a good match for the streaking
Garcia, 22-0 with 14 KOs, and one that he should be able to
win. Morales, 52-7 with 32 KOs, is great, but his best days
were several pounds - and several years - ago. Still "El
Terrible" will always be dangerous, and Garcia will need to
be sharp and ready for the 38-year old. But Garcia is a guy
who has yet to have a bad day - in the ring or in the gym.
He oozes championship pedigree and should make Philly proud
next month. 
Former
two-time cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham gets a
chance to take the IBF belt for the third time, when he
faces Yoan Pablo Hernandez in a February rematch. Cunningham
was jobbed in October when his first meeting with Hernandez
was stopped on "cuts" after six rounds and handed to the
challenger on a dubious technical decision. Hernandez did
drop USS Cunningham like a ton of bricks in round one, but
was unable to sink the battleship. The rest of the bout was
all Cunningham - except for the decision. Of course
Steve must return to Germany for the fight, but that is old
hat for the globe-trotting boxer. Given the raw
treatment he received from not only the judges but his own
promotional company as well, Steve would be well-advised to
score a knockout over the lanky southpaw. He did seem to be
wearing the Cuban native down at the time of the first
fight's stoppage, so hopefully he can pick up right were he
left off in October. 
Middleweight
Lajuan Simon was dispatched in his try for the middleweight
title last weekebd (12/09/11). WBA champion Gennady Golovkin
made short work of Simon, landing a devastating left hook
that dropped Lajuan for the count. The total elapsed time of
the fight was 2:17. It was an impressive win for the
champion, given that Simon had never been stopped before.
Lajuan is one of Philly's best - and most likable -
fighters. He is also one of our best kept secrets, not
getting a fraction of the press and attention he deserves.
Back in 2009, Simon dropped a close decision to a
then-undefeated Arthur Abraham in his first title try. That
fight was also in Germany and untelevised, like his most
recent outing. Simon's record now reads 23-4-2 with 12 KOs.
It was his second loss in a row. Now he'll have to regroup
and try to pick up the pieces at age 32. Not an easy task
for any fighter. 
Camden's
Max Alexander dropped a lopsided 10-round decision to Roy
Jones Jr. last weekend (12/10/11). Alexander was looking at
the fight as a way to re-enter his old "up-and-comer"
status, but Jones still had enough left to out-speed and
outwork the cruiserweight who now lives in North Carolina.
Max still sounded hopeful when I spoke to him a few days
after the bout. He said he felt proud that he could hang in
there with the all-time great, and felt that he gave Jones
enough trouble to make him aware he was in a fight. "I hurt
him in the tenth, and if this was a twelve round fight, I
would have gotten him out of there", Alexander told me. You
have to love the confidence of fighters. "Roy was in shape,
and he was still fast," Max, 14-6-2 (2 KO), said. He also
said that he hopes another high-profile boxer will give him
a shot based on his performance. He'd love to fight Antonio
Tarver.
Former
Canadian lightweight champion Arthur King passed away
December 14th at age 84. King compiled a fine pro record of
63-13 with 20 KOs between 1946 and 1957. Although he fought
most of his bouts in Canada where he was a staple at the
Maple Leaf Gardens, King still has a strong Philadelphia
con-nection. In 1948, infamous Philadelphia manager Blinky
Palermo bought King's contract and assigned his house
trainer Jimmy Wilson to him. Wilson was one of the best
trainers in those days and in King, found much to work with.
The fighter had a excellent boxing skills and looked like a
real title threat. The partnership led to eleven Philly
appearances including local wins over Eddie Giosa at Shibe
Park and Calvin Smith at Toppi Stadium. King also faced
Paddy DeMarco, Joe Micelli, Chico Vejar, Tiger Jones, Teddy
Davis and Del Flanagan as a pro. Arthur King was born
February 23, 1927. He died Wednesday in his native Toronto,
after years of declining health. 
Donald
"Red" Ryder also passed away recently. The North Philly
flyweight had much success as an amateur in the 1940s. He
placed second in the 1946 Silver Gloves tournament. He
returned the following year (1947) and again placed second
in the same competition. After an uneventful 1948, Ryder
returned in 1949 to give the Diamond Belt tournament a try.
Ryder once again was the runner up. Three major amateur
tournaments with three second place finishes. A fine
accomplishment albeit frustrating to get so close to the
top. His amateur run led to a brief professional career
(1-6) between 1949 and 1954. Red Ryder fought four of his
six bouts in Philly at the Arena, Cambria and the Met. He
also fought once in Atlantic City. His biggest pro start
probably came in his second fight when he was stopped by
Frankie Sodano in two rounds. Ryder's lone professional
victory came in his very next outing when he halted Tommy
Chiorano in two rounds in Atlantic City. Ryder died on
November 25th.