By Chris 'Polish Hitman' Morris
Some news and notes from Colorado boxing this week.
Manuel ‘Manos’ Perez continues to get big fight offers, but only at 147lbs. He has been offered fights for high dollar with Zab ‘Super’ Judah and Luis Collazo. Perez is very tempted to take one of these fights, but so far is holding tight on getting something at least one weight class south of welterweight.
Steve Mestas and Airtight Boxing packed the house last Friday night in a brand new venue, it was literally standing room only. The Aurora Fire Department showed up and cut the line of fight fans coming to the fights short, the fire code was in danger of being broken. A twist on the venue. Mestas negotiated a deal on the venue, verbally, that if the show hit a certain number on concession and alcohol sales, the venue was free. The contract he signed, didn’t contain that clause, much to his dismay. Mestas was the winner in the end and he basically had the GM of the Radisson begging him to come back and do a show. “I can’t work with you guys, there are now trust issues.” Good for Mestas. The search is now on for a bigger venue for the next show in May.
Speaking of trust issues, one thing a promoter is never supposed to do is contact a fighter directly, especially when that fighter has a manager and promoter. It’s very dirty, unethical and will get you quickly ostracized from the Colorado boxing ‘circle’. And as a side note, if you are going to do this kind of dirt? Don’t do it by text so that the fighter can go show his manager. No there wasn’t any misunderstanding at all. The manager read what you wrote word for word. Rookie.
Carlos Galvadon has a card upcoming in Colorado Springs at month’s end. It will feature the ‘usual suspects’ including, Chris Galvadon, Jeremy Ramos, Izaak Cardona, Antonio Diaz, Ruben Jacoby and Andrew Armenta. Ramos is fighting New Mexico’s Arturo Crespin, who fought Maurice Louishomme last year in a dirty fight. Should be a good show.
Donovan ‘Slick D’ Estrella reached out to Jacob Ramos from the Grudge Training Center, looking for a new trainer. Ramos, Estrella, Eric Duran and Estrella’s father Ed met on Tuesday and struck a deal for a ‘one fight trial’ together. This could be just what Estrella needs to get to the next level. Will be interesting to see how they work together. Match made in heaven? Only time will tell.
Leann Perez, aka Colorado’s Boxing Chick, now has t-shirts available. Contact her through her facebook page if you are interested in buying one in support. I’m so proud of her, she has come so far in one short year of writing!
Stephen ‘Darkness’ Johnson was able to land a credential to the Mayweather v Pacquiao presser in Los Angeles. He promptly booked a ticket and covered the event. What an honor to have someone from RMB representing at the biggest fight I will probably see in my lifetime. Now to work on credentials to cover the fight…
After Lance ‘Lay ‘em Down’ Williams pulled the biggest upset of his career, starching Ricky Lopez on two days notice, he was offered another chance to fight in Colorado. He was nearly the replacement opponent for ‘Red Hot’ Rob Frankel. Mestas was willing to pay top dollar to bring him right back and Williams agreed to the fight. Unfortunately, there is usually at least a 7 day ‘cool down’ period of ‘suspension’ after a fight. Considering Williams had been put down twice and suffered a nasty rabbit punch, the commission decided against the fight and rightfully so.
Williams has been called out by Donovan ‘Slick D’ Estrella and that fight could actually come to fruition. Duran Hill and his company Sting Like a Bee Boxing, headed by Chris Green, have a date in May to put on a card at his usual venue, PT’s Showclub located in Denver. The card will take place in mid May. If the Estella vs Williams bout happens, this show will be sold out.
Williams has something many fighters don’t have, confidence in himself. He believes in himself. While other fighters are trying hard to hide their fights from YouTube, for the sake of being scouted. I think Coach Charles Leverette summed it up perfectly when we were interviewing Sammy Vasquez. “If a motherfucker can beat us off of watching film? We need to quit boxing!” And Aurelio Martinez quipped, “I want them to scout Misael (Martinez’ protege fighter). I WANT them to form a game plan to beat us and bring it to the ring. May the best boxer win.” That my friends is confidence.
And lastly there was some RMB controversy last week as well. Amanda Armstrong recorded the New Generation Fight Promotions card and was sending me the videos as she got them edited. First she sent the main event, a great fight between Lopez and the aforementioned Williams, which included 4 knockdowns in 5 rounds and should be seen by the world. Williams deserves as much. Soon thereafter I received a text from Rick Lopez Sr., threatening me with legal action. I pulled the video for the sake of Amanda as it put her in an awkward position. The talk is big time, the action is small minded and shallow.
And can someone, anyone please explain to me how a $1500 ‘donation’ from my lawyer, who is a huge boxing fan, to a promotion is going to help Rocky Mountain Boxing? I got a little bit of street left in me, so be sure to look both ways before you cross me, I hold the microphone and know how to wield it…
Until next time, keep your hands up, your chin down and don’t stop punching until your final bell!
