FLASHBACK: October 15, 2005

October 15, 2005: So the fight tonight on ESPN between Peter Manfredo and Sergio Mora doesn't start until 1:30 a.m. here but, of course, I stay up to watch it. What can be said? The judging on this night is a bit off to say the least. First Anthony Bonsante (apparently) decisively beats Jesse Brinkley only to be robbed of the decision. The first time they met it was Jesse scoring a crushing KO victory but this time Bonsante boxed very well and made the adjustments needed to neutralize Jesse. I don't know if Jesse was just "off" tonight or what but it was pretty obvious that Bonsante did what he needed to do and I don't think there is anybody that could have given the decision to Jesse except, of course, the three guys that did so tonight. Peter comes on next with Mora and I have to say I am very proud of the way Peter showed in this fight! The last time they fought each other Peter fell right into Mora's game and exchanged too much on the inside where Mora's active and usually wild style had the advantage. Peter came back tonight, last night, though, and used his true boxing skills to keep the fight at more of a comfortable distance. He looked much more polished and disciplined and alert in there and he seemed to out punch Mora for most of the fight. He adjusted his game like a real professional and showed a lot to me in this fight that went uncredited by these judges. There was one round where Mora finished up very strongly and he definitely got that round but the rest of the fight pretty much seemed like a Peter Manfredo comeback victory and, for what its worth, Teddy Atlas, Joe Tessitore and ringside trainer Tommy Gallagher all seemed to agree. Tommy even had the attitude that it was an obvious thing (I mention what those three thought because it is common knowledge that being at a fight is much different than watching on TV. I prefer to hear the opinions of the people that were there live for the fight). This is boxing, though, and the judges (two out of three of them, anyway) give the fight to hometown fighter Mora. I felt the frustration that he apparently did as I watched Peter in the moments after the fight. It's like, why train so hard and go through that mental anguish the boxers have to go through for weeks before a fight only to be forced to leave your fate in the hands of either crooked or just incompetent judges?