By Cliff Rold

On November 10, 2007, Mexican-born and California-based Jose Armando Santa Cruz (25-3, 14 KO) beat World Lightweight champion Joel Casamayor (35-3-1, 21 KO) of Cuba for the vast majority of the bout’s 36 minutes.  The 27-year old Santa Cruz is not the champion today because the scorecards of Frank Lombardo and Ron McNair said differently.  It was a sinful decision on boxing’s holiest ground, Madison Square Garden; a decision that further evaporated what credibility Casamayor’s reign had left in the wake of an over 12-month layoff.  During the layoff a new warrior filled the void.  Houston, Texas’ Juan Diaz emerged in the eyes of many as the true “man” in the division, his youth and all-action style having left tested veterans Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz in no mas mode. 

Two weeks ago, the “man” got manned up by wily veteran 36-year Nate Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KO), the “Baby Bull” symbolically tamed in a Mexican bull ring.  Over twelve thrilling rounds, Campbell used his speed, power, shoulders and experience to rough up and overcome the heavy favorite.  It doesn’t hurt his current status that many felt he deserved the nod in a non-title affair with Casamayor in 2003. 

This Saturday night, the 36-year old Casamayor will make his second title defense against one of the most exciting, if yet untested, young guns in the game.  27-year old Michael Katsidis (23-0, 20 KO) of Queensland, Australia endeared himself to the blood lusting mobs last year with memorable wars against Graham Earl and Czar Amonsot.  Witnessing Casamayor’s recent form, it remains to be seen how much of a step up this fight will be for Katsidis.

Given my adherence to history first, I’ll believe the winner of Casamayor-Katsidis should be seen as the proper Lightweight champion of the world.  However, if the winner of this fight doesn’t find their way into the ring next with either Campbell or Santa Cruz, then they should be noted for choices not befitting a champion.

Why bring this up before the opening bell this Saturday?  Because whoever wins this Saturday will leave the ring under the promotional umbrella of Golden Boy Promotions and already it has been indicated that, particularly in the case of Katsidis, Nate Campbell may not be in the cards. 

And hardly anyone brings up Santa Cruz.

Of course, Golden Boy could always do the right thing.  After all, this is the messianic saving grace of the sport that proclaims that it will lift boxing by making sure the best fight the best.  Right now, that should mean the winner of Casamayor-Katsidis versus Nate Campbell or Santa Cruz.  Immediately.  If it doesn’t, then what Golden Boy calling for the best fighting the best is proven hyperbole.

For argument’s sake, let’s assume the worst or at least the predictable.  Let’s assume that Campbell’s thumping of Diaz (and the reluctance by many to work with his promoter Don King) or Santa Cruz’s low profile don’t allow for immediate clarification of the Lightweight division.  The title of this piece alludes to friendly advice.  Here it is.

Campbell vs. Santa Cruz. That’s it.  That’s all. Nothing profound. 

Preferably that match would be made with the vociferous Campbell, dressed in the alphabelts of the WBA, WBO and IBF, calling Santa Cruz out to determine the ‘real’ world champion.  Historically it might not be accurate but who cares?  It would be damn good theatre and possibly the most effective way of putting heat on the Casamayor-Katsidis winner should that winner fail the test of a champion in taking one of them on right away.

The momentum from a Campbell-Santa Cruz bout would smack of inevitability.

With heat comes hype and with hype comes high-interest accounts.  There are already cracks in public perception about who truly sits atop the 135 lb. mountain.  A bout between Campbell and Santa Cruz would drive those cracks deeper and wider.  It would also drive up both the noise level in current debates and the demand to see the issue settled once and for all.

No one can truly call themselves Lightweight champion without settling the score with Santa Cruz.  No one can truly call themselves the “man” without beating today’s version of Campbell.  If Sunday’s champion avoids either, then the opening bell of a Campbell-Santa Cruz showdown would serve as an echo chamber, casting shame on a tainted crown.

The Fight: Don’t let this argument, or advice if you will, stop you from tuning in Saturday.  On its own merits, Casamyor-Katsidis is an intriguing showdown.  I’ll be back to take a look at it later this week with a full pre-fight report card.

The Time Collector:   Also on the air for this latest HBO Saturday will be Super Middleweights Librado Andrade and Robert Steiglitz.  It could be a hell of a scrap, as most Andrade fights are. It’s also a chance to repeat the words Andrade offered in defeat last year after his bout with Mikkel Kessler.  “I am a collector of time and this has been a wonderful time to collect.”  I can never thank Andrade enough for offering that one up to the English language.  There are Pulitzer Prize winners who couldn’t turn that phrase. 

Lee: Friday night offers America it’s first full focus look at Middleweight prospect/contender Andy Lee (15-0, 12 KO) of Ireland on ESPN2.  Make sure to tune in because Lee is the goods.  Speed, size, power…Lee has it all.  We don’t know about his chin yet, and opponent Brian Vera won’t be checking it, but World champion Kelly Pavlik has to be hearing the footsteps already.  Pavlik-Lee might just turn into the defining Middleweight rivalry of their time sooner than later.

Marquez Squared: Why are some being so rough on the Marquez brothers (Rafael and Juan Marquez) for being angry after their recent losses to Israel Vasquez and Manny Pacquiao?  I can understand guffawing at their promoter’s rants, but the fighters?  Those two left every drop of themselves in the ring and lost the biggest fights of their careers by one point apiece.  Both had solid arguments that they deserved the nods or at least draws.  Cut ‘em some slack; it’s too easy to criticize the emotions that such expended and honorable warriors might be experiencing, or how they choose to express them, from the safety and relative tranquility of a keyboard.

The Merger: Allow me finally to say how exciting I find the notion of a Boxing Scene-Maxboxing merger.  It’s almost like going home.  Before I ever wrote professionally (at least semi depending on who’s asked), I was just another avid fan on the message boards at Maxboxing.  I often still am.  The writing team this merger assembles is incredible and it’s an honor to be a part of it.

Cliff’s Notes…

So what else is going on this week? 

Here’s one guy’s take.

Oh, and one quick note on the pound for pound debate. 

When it comes to pound for pound, everyone else’s list is typically terrible.  I got an e-mail from a fan this week after I posted the new quarterly list stating that my latest offering was awful.  He then offered his own list for debate.  He had Wladimir Klitschko at #3. 

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com