Mayweather Trumps Judah, Remains World’s Best

Ringside by Mike Sloan, Victor Perea , Albert Howell
Photos by Chris Cozzone

The fight between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Zab Judah almost never happened. In fact, according to most boxing experts, the fight shouldn’t have taken place because most felt that Judah didn’t deserve the shot at Mayweather. But public demand was high for the tussle and the fight occurred.

In the weeks preceding the contest, those same experts predicted that Mayweather would be too much for Judah to handle and would wind up either stopping the Brooklyn native or simply cruising to an easy unanimous decision win. Hardly any gave Judah a chance at scoring the upset and when it was all said and done, those experts were right.

In fact, pre-fight predictions of a Mayweather triumph were about as accurate as “Pretty Boy” Floyd’s punches against Judah; Mayweather won and he made it look relatively easy.

Judah kept things interesting early on and was able to avoid most of what Mayweather threw his way. After the first four rounds, many ringside observers had it a draw. However, Mayweather eventually figured out the tricky southpaw and gradually unfurled a strategy that bolstered his claim as the world’s bets fighter pound-for-pound.

From the later stages of the sixth round on, Mayweather dazzled the near sellout crowd of 15,170 mostly pro-Mayweather fans with his electrifying speed, stifling right hands and impenetrable defense. Mayweather began to systematically break Judah’s guard, his stamina and his confidence, a dizzying array of skills so magnificent it was a wonder that Judah was able to last the full twelve rounds.

In the middle stages of the tenth round, a round that will live on in infamy, Judah’s mouth and nose were dripping blood and his eyes were swollen and red. Mayweather transformed himself from a grinning counter puncher in the early stages of the fight who allowed Judah to trash talk into a cunning beast who taunted, laughed and made fun of the former undisputed welterweight champion. The showdown was beginning to resemble that of a major league pitcher mowing down a group of high school batters. To say Mayweather’s performance wound up being a clinic would be an understatement.

That was, of course, until all hell broke loose inside the ring of the Thomas and Mack Center.

Judah, who appeared to be caving in from the mind numbing arsenal inside Mayweather’s bag of tricks, unloaded a crushing hook to the groin, sending Mayweather down into a crouching position. From there, Judah deliberately hit Mayweather on the back of the head. Referee Richard Steele immediately jumped in to prevent unrest, but it was too late.

Roger Mayweather, Floyd’s chief trainer and uncle, leaped into the ring to challenge Judah. From there, it was bedlam as members from both teams charged in to duke it out. Security guards, inspectors, commissioners and some patrons all filled the ring to participate in a WWF-style Royal Rumble. Finally, after several minutes, order was restored and the fight continued. From there, Mayweather boxed from the outside and coasted to a unanimous decision.

Mayweather, who improved to a stellar professional record of 36-0 with 24 KOs, won via tallies of 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109. Floyd Mayweather could have been disqualified due to Roger Mayweather entering the ring during a round, but that decision is up to the referee. The rule of the Nevada Commission states that such a foul is grounds for an immediate DQ, but it’s the referee’s discretion to apply the rule.

After the fight, both fighters were respectful of each other and Mayweather commented that he would like to face either Antonio Margarito, Oscar De La Hoya or Shane Mosley next. He did hurt his right hand during the fight so that might curtail immediate plans.

As for Judah, who fell to 34-4 with 25 KOs, he said he’d like a rematch with Mayweather but those plans seem out of the question for the time being. -- Mike Sloan

Arce uses boxing to defeat Alvarez

Jorge Arce, 44-3-1 (34), brought his opponent, Rosendo Alvarez, 37-3-2 (24), two Grade AA “Huevos” at the weigh in, so that he would be “better prepared to fight” come Saturday night.

Alvarez, however, might have already eaten breakfast before Arce graciously provided it, as the two-time world champion failed to make weight by three full pounds. Due to Alvarez’ excess baggage, the bout was changed from a WBC Interim Flyweight Championship bout to just a straight-up grudge match between a fan favorite brawler and a former world champion.

Just a day before at the final press conference, Alvarez declared that Arce was a sideshow, a clown not a fighter, and even went as far as to question Arce’s sexuality. Arce answered the insults with a kiss and some eggs prior to tonight’s bout, but inside the ring, made Alvarez eat every word.

Contrary to his usual style, Arce seemed to let the first round come and go as a feeling-out process; something very common in boxing but not common in Jorge Arce fights. Alvarez came out the obvious aggressor to start the bout landing three flush hooks and opening up a tiny sliver on Arce’s right eye. Arce came out busier in the second, still not in his usual aggressive style, but definitely more active than in the first, enough to win a close round on all three judges’ scorecards. The combination of Alvarez hitting after the bell and the sliver on his right eyelid beginning to bleed more noticeably, Arce came out in the third with a sense of urgency and a lot more emotion. You could see his determination to hurt Alvarez with every punch he threw. Alvarez only had one decent counter in a round in which he was bombarded with hooks and straight rights.

Arce continued to outbox Alvarez, much to the surprise of some ringside observers, while winning the next two mild, yet still dominating, rounds. Alvarez seemed to show his age as he was being outworked by the younger fighter. The sixth round was a true Jorge Arce type of round, where he relentlessly went after Alvarez, landing flush straight rights and following them up with multiple hooks to the body and head that left him hurt on the ropes. A lopsided first half of round six was capped off when Arce followed a right jab with a vicious left hook to Alvarez’ right side; immediately sending him bending over in pain and onto the canvas. As referee Vic Drakulich began the ten count, Alvarez took a knee and seemed to be recovering before rising to continue; but much to the surprise of those present, Alvarez stayed on that knee until Drakulich waived off the bout declaring Arce the winner by KO at 1:54 of the sixth round.

Alvarez gave credit to his conqueror saying, “I thought Arce wasn’t that good, but I should have prepared better, he’s a great fighter. I did too much to my body to make weight. I was so weak that I vomited earlier today. It’s what I did to myself to make weight.” Although a rematch is not warranted Alvarez said that he would fight again,
“I can make 115 lbs and I can prepare better.”

The chances of Arce granting a rematch at 115lbs are highly doubtful, “I did not want to knock him out in the first round. I wanted to hurt and punish him. Everyone told me he was a real tough guy. He wasn’t. I never felt his power. I’m ready for bigger guys…bigger money. Show me the money.”

Up to the point of the KO, Arce was leading on all three scorecards, 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46. --   Victor Perea

Diaz Thwarts Cotto, Scores Huge Win

One of the fights that flew under the radar over the course of the past few weeks was the intriguing showdown between Juan Diaz and Jose Miguel Cotto. Both men entered the contest as unbeaten lightweights with oodles of promise, but only one was to have his hand raised at the contest's conclusion. Since neither man possesses the freakish knockout power to end a fight with one shot coupled with the fact that both men are busy all-action fighters, it had the makings of an extraordinarily entertaining battle.

The fight did, in fact, wind up being a memorable one; a classic phone booth-type of slugfest but through the midway point of the fight it was clear as to who was the better man. Juan Diaz seized control of the action early on and never relented as he wound up scoring an impressive unanimous twelve round decision. Diaz' extremely high punch output and relentless pressure paved the way towards victory, but that's not to say that Cotto simply wilted under the assault. Cotto continuously returned fire whenever Diaz pressed his attacks, but Cotto was just a half step slower along the way.

Diaz, from Houston, TX, pounded Cotto's ribcage every chance he had and seemed en route to a stoppage towards the end of the seventh round. Cotto's paced slowed considerably and was wobbled momentarily along the ropes. Had Diaz took the initiative and tried much harder for a stoppage in the eighth, he may have sealed the deal. But for reasons known only to Diaz, he let Cotto off the hook and allowed the Caguas, Puerto Rico native to gather his senses.

The fight's pace actually increased as the rounds wore away and by the twelfth, it was a toe-to-toe war of attrition. Cotto, far behind on the scorecards, knew he had to score a dramatic come-from-behind knockout and tried everything in his power to do just that. Diaz, of course, refused to budge and obliged Cotto's desperate assault and fired back repeatedly. According to CompuBox, the two lightweights combined for a whopping 282 punches in the twelfth round alone.

Cotto never did score that last minute knockout and Diaz was able to hang on for a unanimous decision. Diaz was awarded the victory via official tallies of 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110 and was able to retain his minor alphabet title. Diaz improved to 29-0 with 14 KOs and looks forward to landing a lightweight unification bout later this year.

“If (Jose Luis) Castillo wins in June, I'd like to fight him for unification,” Diaz said immediately following the bout. “I think that would be a great match.”

There was plenty of doubt that surrounded both Diaz and Cotto preceding their showdown but after witnessing the twelve round war, it's a safe bet that both men lived up to their records. It was the biggest test thus far for Cotto but he unfortunately came up short. And for Diaz, it was yet another step towards duking it out with the elite of the lightweight division.

“He was very strong,” a disappointed but respectful Cotto, who fell to 27-1 with 19 KOs, said afterward. “He is very good. He hits very hard and he is very busy. He is a good boxer. This is boxing.”

Diaz was equally polite. “I was very happy with the way the fight went,” he said. “My opponent was very brave. Every time I hit him with a good combo, he jumped right back in.” -- Mike Sloan

Chavez, Jr. stops Ziolowski

Welterweight up-and-comer Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., (25-0-1, 18 KOs) scored a second-round knockout over previously unbeaten Tyler Ziolowski (5-1, 5 KOs).

Chavez drilled Ziolowski with his signature left hook to the body, but a straight right is what sent him stumbling backward.

In Round 2, a hard right by Chavez rocked Ziolowski. With a bloodied nose, Ziolowski tried to fight back, but there was just too much sting on Chavez’s punches to absorb. At 2:40 of round two, Chavez landed a torturous left hook to the body that sent Ziolowski sprawling to the floor, where he was counted out by referee Joe Cortez.

Chavez is next scheduled to fight on the undercard of the Miguel Cotto vs. Paul Malignaggi WBO Junior Welterweight Championship bout at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 10.

-- Albert Howell

Vanes outclasses Seetso

In the second bout of the night 2000 US Olympian Vanes Martirosyan, 8-0 (5), continued to build a good foundation to a hopefully long and exciting career with a third-round KO of Denver’s Tefo Seetso, now 2-2-1. Martirosyan, who is trained by Freddie Roach out of Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, took control of the fight very early on, using his commanding jab to set up a vicious straight right that only seconds into the bout had Seetso on shaky legs.

Martirosyan’s speed, power and experience were brutally evident as Seetso was on the ropes and eating two hooks as the bell saved him to end the first. Unfortunately for Seetso, round two saw more of Martirosyan landing punches at will and countering the few punches Seetso threw. Several straight rights continued to wobble the very game but very outclassed Seetso.

Seetso answered the bell for the third only to continue to back straight up and get battered by Martirosyan’s constant rights. Seetso barely threw a punch as he was seemingly afraid to get countered by another huge right. Martirosyan was unmercifully bullying Seetso around the ring landing a dozen heavy shots in a row, the last of which sent a overwhelmed Seetso to the ground. Referee Jay Nady waived off the bout midway through the count, as Seetso was obviously in no condition to fight anymore. The time was 55 seconds into round three. --   Victor Perea

Ferguson wins split win over Lopez in top prelim bout

Floyd Mayweather-managed lightweight Wes Ferguson (13-1-1, 8 KOs) of Las Vegas, won a split decision over Riverside, California’s Jose Manuel Lopez, (16-2, 9 KOs).

In round one, Lopez came out swinging. He pushed Ferguson back to the ropes with a barrage of punches, but Ferguson displayed his defensive skills by blocking many of Lopez’s punches. At the end of the first round, Lopez landed a two-hook combination.Ferguson answered with his own left hook to begin the second round and then midway through the second, landed a lead right. The two exchanged left jabs to begin round 3; Ferguson puts his combination well to win it. However, midway through the third, Lopez pushed Ferguson to the ropes and landed two big hooks to the mid-section. Lopez began round four aggressively pursuing Ferguson, but Ferguson’s defensive skills kept him at bay until he was stunned by a fierce barrage of punches at the end of the round. To his credit, Ferguson recovered to rally from being hurt and won round five. The sixth, seventh and eighth were marked by back-and-forth action. In the ninth, Ferguson landed a right, sending Lopez to the canvas and earning him a 10-8 round. The brawlers ended the tenth and final round with a crowd-pleasing exchange that saw both competitors letting their hands go.

Ferguson won a split decision by 95-93 and 97-92 on two cards. Lopez was up 95-94 on the third. -- Albert Howell

Jenkins shocks Bisbal

In what was a moderate upset, Puerto Rico's newest prospect was upended tonight, suffering the first defeat of his professional career. Victor Bisbal, from Salinas, Puerto Rico who entered the contest as a possible contender in the coming months, was shockingly knocked out cold in the second round. Dominic Jenkins (7-5-2, 2 KOs), a journeyman with only a solitary knockout on his ledger prior to tangling with Bisbal, planted a crippling punch flush on Bisbal's jaw, ending the fight. Bisbal (5-1, 4 KOs) never came close to beating the count and was officially beaten at the 1:31 mark of the second stanza, awarding Jenkins, from La Mesa, TX, with the victory. -- Mike Sloan

Garcia TKOs Cruz

In a see-saw featherweight battle, Sal Garcia (14-3-2, 6 KOs) earned a TKO victory over Juan Ramon Cruz (13-2-1, 9 KOs) with an overhand right at 2:59 of round six. Cruz appeared the speedier boxer in round one, and worked to establish his jab, while Garcia established himself as the heavier puncher, drilling his opponent with a solid left hook to the body. In the second, Cruz came out quickly and landed a beautiful straight right hand. Midway through the round, Garcia was deducted a point for a low blow. Round four was marked by a brutal exchange between the two combatants, as they traded power shots with Cruz’s back against the ropes. In round five, Cruz labored to box and establish his jab again, but to no avail -- Garcia kept the pressure on, pushing Cruz back to the ropes. In round six, Cruz nailed Garcia coming in with an overhand right flush to the jaw, however; at the end of the round, it was an overhand right by Garcia that laid Cruz out. He got back to his feet, but had to be held up by referee Robert Byrd, who waved the bout off at that point. -- Albert Howell

Sloppy slugfest ends night with KO

The evening’s swing bout was much delayed as the melee during the main event caused the action to be temporarily halted. After the remaining ringside observers where removed from the fighters path to the ring, heavyweights Marcus Dear and Bermane Stiverne made their way between the ropes.

Dear landed a few more shots during a painfully sloppy first round that saw nothing more than wide wild shots from both fighters. Dear 2-2 (2) continued to press the action in the second at one point completely emptying his tank during a 30 second sprint of hay makers and wayward hooks, none of which landed clean. A now tired Dear was unable to keep up with a countering Stiverne 6-0 (6) who landed a huge shot in the 5th, ending the bout with a knockout victory, the bout was the one of six knockouts on a loaded undercard. -- Victor Perea ,

Bonus shots