The Square Ring

From Tomorrow’s Pattaya Mail

by Howie Reed

If you were looking for a vintage Ricky Hatton in his first fight since the loss to Floyd Mayweather jr. you were probably disappointed. ‘The Hitman’ of the tremendous win over Kostya Tszyu is long gone. What effect the devastating knockout at the hands of Mayweather had on Hatton is up for debate.

With more than 56,000 fans packing the City of Manchester Stadium, Hatton won a lopsided 12-round decision over “The Chosen Juan” Lazcano. Juan was “chosen” for his boxing style, which should have, and did, fit right in the Hatton wheelhouse.

With the exception of rounds 8 and 10 when he was rocked with left hooks it was all Hatton. In the 10th Lazcano landed a left hook that had Hatton wobbly when referee Howard Foster stepped in to save the day. First he lectured Lazcano for some imaginary discretion then called time out to have Hatton’s shoe tied. In all Foster wasted about a minute which gave Hatton ample time to recover. There were times during the fight when one could imagine that Foster was auditioning for the Old Vic rather than refereeing a box fight.

The semi main was supposed to showcase Paulie Malignaggi as Hatton next opponent. TSR has always considered Malignaggi the usual Brooklyn, New York punk with some talent, a big mouth and no punch. Now add to that assessment “stupid.”

Malignaggi entered the ring with more hair extensions than Victoria Beckham. He probably lost the first round when his extensions got in his face and in the 8th when they came un-taped causing a “hair cut” in the corner between rounds. That and a “broken” right hand led to a split decision in his favor over Lovemore “not less” N’dou.

One judge who actually watched the fight had it 115-114 for N’dou while two guys at the beer stand had it 116-113 and 116-112 for Malignaggi. TSR had it for N’dou.

Chrysanthemum Joe

Got a note from a regular reader about a heavyweight named Chrysanthemum Joe Choynski (51-18) who fought from 1889-1904.

Choynski got the name “Chrysanthemum” because he wore his hair in what today would be called an “Afro” or as us with ‘street cred’ say “a Fro.” In 1901 he fought Jack Johnson in Galveston, Texas getting KO’d in 3. For the effort both he and Johnson were arrested and tossed into jail for participating in an “inter-racial” fight. They served 4 weeks and during their incarnation sparred to the delight of fellow inmates, local dignitaries and jailers.

Choynski was only about 168 pounds but had no trouble fighting the best of the day in the heavyweight division. He fought a 20-round draw with future heavyweight champion Gentleman Jim Jeffers.

Choynski’s most memorable fight might have been January 12 of 1900. He was matched against Charles ‘Kid’ McCoy in Brooklyn, New York. The Durango Democrat newspaper covered the fight.

“McCoy got a decision over Joe Choysnki in a bout which lasted three rounds at the Broadway Athletic club tonight. Choynski would have had the fight in the second round were it not for an accident as to time keeping. He had floored the ‘Kid’ four times, but the timekeeper pulled the bell as McCoy counted for the limit of ten seconds, and this saved the ‘Kid’ from absolute defeat.

“Choysnki’s seconds protested vigorously, but referee Johnny White, while knowing the round was short by several seconds, stood by the official timekeeper and ordered the men to continue when the gong rang again for opening of third round.

“The blow that sent Choynski down and out was delivered almost two seconds after the bell had rung for the completion of the third round. There was a great deal of noise in the building at the time the gong sounded.

“In the northeastern portion of the building there was a tumult caused by one spectator dropping dead. The man was very much excited during the bout and expressed himself freely as to McCoy being out before the bell rang. He slid from his seat dead as the bell sounded for the beginning of the third round.”

Choynski said post fight, “I had him licked good and sure and had the timekeeper acted right, I would have had McCoy out. However, I am satisfied nothing was done by either referee or official timekeeper with intent of doing me wrong.”

After the bout Choynski and McCoy signed articles to meet again. But much like today the rematch never took place.

Smell Test

In life is a believability level which many call the “smell test.” If you follow boxing closely the “smell test” detector goes off more than is necessary. If it smells like an old dead fish then chances are it is an old dead fish.

The detector goes off in Pattaya minute-by-minute, 24/7, with the words “I love you too much.” Fortunately most old goats ignore the smell, thinking it’s Channel #5, so tourism flourishes.

Just weeks ago TSR reported that the Alex Arthur-Joan Guzman WBO 130-pound title fight was on hold. Guzman was having “visa” problems. Now comes the news that Guzman has decided that he’ll move up to lightweight, making Arthur WBO super-feather champ. Promoter Frank Warren is quoted as saying: “Britain has lost a few of its world champions over the last few months but we have got one back with Alex now declared as world champion.”

Bet he’s not trying to land #1 challenger Juan Manuel Marquez. Why? Cause there goes another title from Britain.

Frank Warren is a modern renaissance man in boxing. He promotes, manages, owns a TV network and writes a “weakly” column in The Sun newspaper. Two weeks ago TSR picked up a bit from Frank’s column.

“Warren announced in his column in The Sun daily newspaper that he had agreed terms with Don King for WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter (30-1, 23 KO’s) to come to the UK and defend his title. The proposed date is July 12 at the O2 Arena in London. In terms of whom the 27 year old Nigerian champion will fight, it is apparently between former 2000 Olympic super heavyweight champion Audley Harrison (22-3, 17 KOs) and Matt Skelton (21-1, 18 KOs).”

Due to space limitations the “news” was not in last week’s column. Lucky break. One week later Sam Peter’s co-promoter Dino Duva said in an email to FightNews, “I am stating that as of now, there is no deal. I am working on different options right now for Sam for July, and a fight in the UK is one of them. If there were a deal, it would be done and announced by Duva Boxing.”

So if Warren speaks, writes or wiggles, your bologna detector is likely to be set off.

Smell test - Part Deux et Trois

To the sound of trumpets it was announced that Miguel Cotto (32-0) will face Antonio Margarito (36-5) on July 26 in Las Vegas for the WBA/WBO welterweight title. The fight was originally scheduled for Madison Square Garden but a Las Vegas casino wanted it.

Slight problem in that both fighters wanted to use 8-ounch gloves. The Nevada Commission, for safety reasons, had in their regulations that boxers over 135 pounds use 10-ounch gloves. Welterweight is of course 147 pounds. No problem.

“ESPN Boxing is reporting that the Nevada Commission amended its rules on glove size after being threatened by promoter Bob Arum. Arum wanted to stage Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarita at 147lbs in Las Vegas. (He also) wanted the fight to take place with 8-ounce gloves, as did the fighters, and pursued a meeting with the Nevada commission to talk it over.”

King Bob rules.

There goes another brick from the chimney of credibility that used to be the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

One boxing organization that usually receives high marks is the British Boxing Board of Control. One can argue that like all things British, they tend to be a bit “stuffy and condescending” but they are after all the arbiters of all things to all people in boxing.

Ok, a little over the top perhaps but that’s the case in their minds. They recently extended the suspension of former WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison until February 2009. Harrison, for some reasons, thought the suspension would be lifted in spite of an April 22 arrest for drunk driving. Silly boy. He was suspended for “bringing the sport into disrepute.”

Hard to believe that he’s the only one bringing the sport into disrepute but then the BB of C probably can’t suspend all promoters, managers and TV networks.

Jeff Fenech Speaks

As Jeff Fenech readies for his June 24 encounter with Azuma Nelson, the fight, originally scheduled for Bangkok, has been moved to Melbourne, Australia. Might be bad for Fenech as he has now explained away his loss to Nelson in 1992.

In 1992 he was getting towards the end of his career and maybe like a thoroughbred racehorse he just might have been looking ahead to retirement and the breeding shed. That loss, before 37,000 at Princes Park in Melbourne, Fenech now credits to “extra nocturnal exercise.”

“I wasn’t married back then and I had a massive ego,” Fenech said. “I thought I was invincible and that I could do anything I liked. I slept with four or five girls every day. I did everything wrong. I just thought I was going to win. In the end I paid a heavy price.”

The upside of his actions prior to his Melbourne encounter are oblivious. The rematch with Nelson at the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne on June 24 will have those same distractions.

Jeeves Time…

“Your Lordship, your friend Mr. Sonchai jr. who hosted you and your posse’ at the Saturday Muay Thai fights had a fight card mid week. It was carried on TV channel 7. The ABCO champion Chonlatarn Or Piriyaponyo (25-0) successfully defended against Jaime Barcelona.

“From a e-mail I received: ‘The result is for 12 rounds with both fighting continuously and fiercely before Chonlarn can win unanimously (and) successfully defend his title.’

“Before anyone in the Chonlarn camp orders out for champagne and caviar, Barcelona’s record of 31-38 should be noted.

“Your Lordship, as you should have known, the Jeff Fenech-Azuma Nelson June 24 fight that was originally scheduled for Bangkok was moved to Melbourne. Now you may ask, why? Well my sources indicate via e-mail that, ‘Jeff and Azuma do not fight in Thailand. First Jeff wanted to rematch with my boxer, Samart, but Samart (is) not interested to fight, so I guess the fight is in Australia now.’”

“Ok Jeeves let the man up he’s all covered in blood. Give me some peace. If you please a little quiet, my lager, cigars and some music.”

“Your Lordship I received an e-mail from your old college pal Mr. Stu. I quote, ‘A special hello to the overworked Jeeves. Give him some time off. Get your own lager and cigars for once. You need the exercise.’ So I’m taking Mr. Stu’s advice, I’m out of here, Cherrio, Pip-Pip and Hasta La Vista.”