FISTIC ACTION IN L.A. CLOSES HBO YEAR
Los Angeles - Anyway you look at it, the two men headlining tomorrow nights HBO Championship Boxing card each hold a piece of boxing history in that the pair not only knocked Roy Jones the puck out, but they did it back to back in succession. Jones’ first conqueror is the recognized World light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver. He brings a 22-2 (18 KO’s) record to this 175 lb. dance to be held at the Staples Center. His opponent, and yes, even though he too KO’d Jones, Glenn Johnson is in a lot of people’s minds just an opponent for Tarver.
JAMAICAN FIGHTER ON A GOOD ROLL!
Unfortunately for Johnson, he has been tagged as the “Other Guy” who knocked Roy out. 40-9-2 (28 KO’s) as a professional, he hasn’t lost since 2003 and a Majority Decision to Julio Gonzalez. Being that was in Julio’s backyard of Commerce, CA, Glenn deserved the nod he just didn’t get. And while those nine losses look like the stats of an opponent, Johnson has a great Trainer in Orlando Cuellar who has a lot of tools. Question here is will Johnson be able to put his hands together enough to offset the smooth flow of the champion Tarver?
CUELLAR HAS SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE APPROACH!
Orlando Cuellar employs the most basic of instructions. “Touch him, just touch him” is what he kept telling Johnson vs. Jones. The contact, be it to the hips, arms, head, body, it threw off the rhythm of Jones who utilizes a combination of rhythm and speed. Can he KO Tarver like he did Jones? Even though Johnson has more KO’s (28) than Tarver has fights (22), Antonio’s amateur pedigree offsets that as well. Do I feel an upset here? Probably not, as Tarver looks the Decision winner here. By the way, who was that Jamaican that was dropping $5 & $10 K bets all over Vegas on Johnson at +$650 prior to the Jones fight? This prophet collected $32,500 from the Las Vegas Hilton “Supersportsbook” alone!
AND WHAT ABOUT THAT JONES GUY?
Ringside for the HBO broadcast which begins at 9 PM ET & 6 PM in California will be none other than Roy Jones himself. He has indicated to people that he would like to take some time off before returning for what more than likely would be his ring finale. A light heavyweight with a heavyweight ego, Roy doesn’t want to go out on his back. Especially not twice in a row! One has to be expecting a “Soft” foe in late 2005.
LENNOX WILL BE BACK & ONLY FOR VITALI!
Former World heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis probably received the biggest round of applause at the Vitali Klitschko-Danny Williams fight for boxers in attendance. That being a fact, Lewis has already began shedding poundage, albeit slowly and not publicly. If he does comeback, and it appears likely, Lennox Lewis will be letting us know before long. Even coming back from an extended layoff, I like Louis over Carnera (Wink!) in this rematch!
JUSTICE DEPT. LOOKING UNDER WBC ROCK
The Operation Matchbox scandal has expanded its investigation and now includes a hard look at the WBC. The Mexico City based group, always high on ethics, of late has been taking “Donations” from Promoters to offset woes brought about by Graciano Rocchigiani’s multi-million dollar Lawsuit. But what the Fed’s are looking at intently is how the WBC & Top Rank worked together over the years. The charges being bantered about involve the use of the anti-racketeering Laws, AKA the R.I.C.O. Act. Could you have ever fathomed the World Boxing Council’s mode of business being investigated as an “Ongoing Criminal Enterprise?”
SULAIMAN THINKS BORDER MAKES HIM IMMUNE
President for life Jose Sulaiman, who over the years has wronged a number of fighters other than Rocchigiani, is under the microscope here. Sulaiman and son Mauricio Sulaiman’s nearly incestuous relationship with current Top Rank President Toad du Beof, and his stepfather Bob Arum, this is an item of great interest to the U.S. Justice Dept. These latest revelations come as Federal Prosecutors ready January Indictments for a list of names that continue to grow. If a case is made, the U.S.-Mexican Border is not wide enough to protect the Sulaiman Cartel.
SEAN EITHER “TELLS ALL” OR DOES HARD TIME?
Booking Agent Sean Gibbons, originally from Oklahoma City, is the guy on the spot here. And the way I see it, it’ll either be him or Top Rank’s “House” Manager Cameron Dunkin that’ll be doing an impression of Barry Manilow. And the reason being is? Sean is the guy with the most dirt on his shoes. “Fight Fixing, Conspiracy, Forged Medical Records, Fighters Using Other Names, Colombian Dust (Cocaine),” I can go on. And should Gibbons go to jail for a number of Felonies, it would be for a lengthy sentence.
IS SNITCH STILL WITH TOP RANK?
That’s why I’m figuring it’s either Gibbons or Cameron, one of which has most likely already tried out and been given a spot on the “Operation Matchbox Choir.” In regards to Dunkin, he and Toad du Beof are running neck and neck as to who is detested more by boxing folk. A footnote here, Gibbon’s Attorney has stated he will not seek a deal, which coming from a Defense Attorney usually means the opposite. Stay Tuned!
GOPHER WHO FAKED EXAMS CHARGED IN TEXAS
For years Top Rank, as well as other outfits have utilized the services of one Ray Ibarra. Thought to be the schlep driving guys to and from the El Paso Airport, Ibarra who worked on Federal property, utilized a position at such to forge complete Medical Records of boxers just by filling in the blanks on photocopies as if he himself were an MD. Indicted on a host of charges, Ibarra is looking at a possible eight years to a dime in Prison. Expect Ray to at some point to be testifying in a Las Vegas Courtroom, this even though he was Charged in El Paso.
KING DOES “VIDEOTAPED” NUMBER ON PEDRO!
Have you seen that son of a gun Don King and what he had to say about me! Hit this link and find out what has some people, just not me running for cover http://www.ringtalk.com/video.asp
NEW YORK COMMISSION HAS BEEN SERVED!
The New York State Athletic Commission was served with Legal papers this week. In a multi-million dollar suit brought by unbeaten heavyweight “Baby Joe” Mesi, his Buffalo, NY Legal team is looking to put the finger on either the Commission and the group that performed tests on Mesi that included at least one MRI in P.I.G., or Physicians Imaging Group of Buffalo. Team Mesi claims that either P.I.G., the N.Y. Commission leaked the Medical information on Mesi that was though to be protected by Law. My source told me from the get-go that Commission Dr. Barry Jordan was the guy who leaked stuff that ended up on ESPN.
WILL TEDDY ATLAS BE SUED AS WELL?
“We’re leaving the option open of suing ESPN, and their announcer Teddy Atlas. The reason being is that we feel that Joe was wronged by the leak of his Medical tests, which did air on ESPN.” Those are the words of a Buffalo Attorney on Thursday afternoon that is representing the unbeaten heavyweight “Baby Joe” and his father Jack Mesi. There is much speculation as to Joe’s Medical status after a March 13 fight with Vassiliy Jirov. But as stated in the story I broke here late Sunday, and then Fight News stole without even a mention later in the week, Mesi has made a move to have the Nevada State Athletic Commission lift his Medical Suspension.
“RING TALK TV” FROM TARVER-JOHNSON WEIGH IN!
You can expect the 11:30 AM Antonio Tarver-Glenn Johnson weigh in and some pertinent interviews coming at you late Friday on “Ring Talk TV,” this in addition to a Column by Cliff “24-Karat” Rold. You’re visiting www.RingTalk.com, truly your inside look into the world of boxing! Other guys and sites can talk the talk, but here at www.RingTalk.com we not only talk the talk, but we walk the walk! Check out the Ring Talk TV selections http://www.ringtalk.com/video.asp
MOST POPULAR ARTICLES SECTION
Some of the more popular stories of late involved a series of articles I penned on Shane Mosley, and the fact that the Government has his name on a list of athletes some of whom had “Admitted” their use of Steroids. Dubbed the “BALCO Scandal,” the usually vocal wife of Mosley, Jin Mosley, hasn’t uttered a single word since the story that Mosley was the only boxer thought to be taking undetectable Steroids broke here at Ring Talk. Visit the “Most Popular Article” link by clicking here at www.RingTalk.com
LISTEN NOW TO “RING TALK RADIO!”
With guests that included HBO Godfather Larry Merchant, and new NABF featherweight king Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, and the former Cassius Clay Jr., “Ring Talk Radio” was rocking! You can listen now by hitting this link http://www.universaltalknetwork.com/arch_ringtalk.html Don’t forget with 18+ years now, “Ring Talk Radio” is the longest running show in boxing history!
Note: Mr. Fernandez is not your average boxing writer. A four-time Golden Gloves champion who spent eight honorable years with the San Francisco Police Dept., Pedro Fernandez is a schooled Journalist who has had a byline for better than three decades! He can be reached with your comments at Pedro@RingTalk.com