Billy’s Boxing Blog

By William Trillo
Photo-Chop: Bret “The Threat”

You are correct Mr. Desert Storm. And considering the build up and the hype surrounding your Jr. Welterweight unifier with Devon Alexander, weak is an understatement. And here’s something you may not be aware of…you are both guilty of cooking up that “weakness”.

Here’s a recipe for one of the weakest meals you will ever have forced down your throat:

That’s Weak Stew

2 Fighters with Zero Punch
1 Unwilling to Engage Champion (slice around eyes)
1 Human Battering Ram
6-10 “Unintentional” Head Butts (suit to taste)
1 Eye That Won’t Open (Even If It Was The Other Eye That Was Butted)
13 Pathetic Punch Average per Fighter per Round *
1 Desperate Network Taking Another Low Blow
1 Media Room Full Of The Biggest Reporter Turnout In Years (Disgruntled Optional)
Sub-Zero Weather (The Worst To Hit East Coast In Years)

Throw all the ingredients in Pontiac Michigan’s Silverdome and stir the pot as needed. Serve over a long red eye flight home and make sure you have your vomit back tucked away in your seat pocket; this one could be coming back up on you for a while.

Serves 2000-6000 Patrons (paid or otherwise) in Attendance (depending on who you ask)

*You read that stat right. According to Compubox Bradley threw 475 punches over 10 rounds and landed 129. That’s a paltry 27%. Alexander’s numbers were 419 punches thrown with 128 landing, that’s 31%, again not earth shattering, especially for 140 pound fighters who should be way more active than that. Under 13 punches a round landed? C’mon guys…you can’t do better than that?

To put that into perspective take a look at the Punchstats for Heavyweight Vitali Klitschko vs. Cris Arreola. You remember Klitschko right? He’s the one that HBO,(see desperate network ingredient above), and everyone else calls boring and slow.

During the same 10 round stretch Klitschko threw 802 punches and landed 301 of them (almost 40%), that’s over 30 punches a round landing and over twice the punches landed by men half his size!! As for Arreola, a guy you ripped and said it was an embarrassing performance, 331 punches thrown and 86 landed (26%). Well at least the little guys did a tad better than that…but not much!

If Klitchko is boring and slow as HBO claims he is, and won’t show his fights because of that, then what is their excuse for even discussing a rematch between Timothy and Devon?

Whatever the reasoning is all I can say is one thing…………..THAT’S WEAK!

Kiss Of Death Or Finger Of Fate

Not much I can say about Cris Arreola’s one round KO over Joey (Not Willing Or) Abell. He fought a palooka and did what he had to do. He “moidered da bum.” Good for Cris.

What didn’t go so well was the kiss on the cheek on Abell as the ref stopped the fight, and even worse in my opinion was Arreola flipping off every ringside photographer in attendance.

The consensus thought as I am reading through the reports to is “Classless”.

Safe to assume I agree wholeheartedly with that assessment.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com

By William Trillo
Photo-Chop: Bret “The Threat”

When the Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley fight was made official, 99.9% of the boxing writers turned their noses up and called this fight a real stinker. No one disagreed. The last thing anyone wanted to see was the Congressman take on an aging fighter who hasn’t won a fight in over 2 years.

Be that as it may, after the announcement that Bob Arum had jumped ship and taken this fight from HBO to the waiting arms of CBS/Showtime, suddenly the same media that first snubbed the fight were now calling this the greatest idea since “One-Hour Martinizing”.

Really?

Has anyone stopped to consider that maybe the reason HBO wasn’t so hot to secure this fight in the first place is because they were as apprehensive about this fight as most of the so called “experts”, and in their apprehension they allowed this one to slip away?

Now…letting Manny Pacquiao go over to the enemy is a huge roll of the dice by HBO, I will not deny that. But at the same time, one has to wonder if there can’t be a method to their madness, whether it, (the madness), was thrust upon them or not.

Allow me to explain, HBO receives nothing from PPV sales, in fact, they have to pay pay a license fee. The only benefit comes to Time-Warner, the parent company, which gets 50 per cent off the top, like all cable carriers of the total gross on PPV.  Let me say that again, HBO pays for the right to broadcast PPV’s. I think they see Pacquiao vs. Mosley as another uncompetitive beat down and the cost of producing it could be sky high…so why do it?

Now that Arum has jumped ship and taken his top selling product elsewhere, I’d like to see HBO start making some smart moves and put the money saved into good WCB and BAD fights, wouldn’t you? If boxing is going to truly make it’s resurgence in 2011 it will need to put more quality fights on free broadcasts and spare us the Mosley vs. Mora type PPV’s we had shoved down our throats in 2010. This weekends Holyfield vs. Williams atrocity is a perfect example of why the PPV madness must come to an immediate and grinding halt. Boxing fans are tired of being ripped off and hopefully this surprising move by Arum will open HBO’s eyes and help them and/or force them to go in a new fan friendly direction.

Something else HBO may be considering is this, Pacquiao has all but run out of viable opponents for big fights and Showtime is buying in at the tail end. The only truly big name left out there is Floyd, and I don’t really ever see that one happening, and if it did, you can be sure that Team Mayweather (Golden Boy & Al Haymon) won’t bite the hand that feeds them (HBO), not if they have a say where the fight ends up getting broadcast.

Truth be told, fans are starting to get tired of paying big bucks to see Manny beat up on old men and shot fighters and quite frankly in the eyes of many, Mosley falls under both categories, old & shot.

Also keep this in mind, HBO can offer purses roughly double of what Showtime can put up. Because of this, Showtime can never compete with HBO for WCB fights, and Shobox with BAD. So Arum can go PPV all he wants with SHOWTIME, but when it comes down to regular fights, (the networks Bread & Butter), it’s most likely he will strongly consider going back to HBO. And as I said earlier, it’s those regular fights that are going to bring the disgruntled fans back to boxing.  PPV events like Manny vs. Shane present the very likely possibility of keeping the fans grumbling.

Events like that should keep the media grumbling as well, or at least express a little concern, but they have bigger concerns on their minds, like hanging a press credential around their necks, so it’s more than likely they will find a way to stroke the promoters and networks rather than tell things like they are.

With that said this move by Arum may be exactly the shot in the arm boxing, (and HBO), has needed for a few years now. It’s often said that necessity is the mother of invention. Similarly, it can be said that competition is the mother of innovation.

By taking boxing’s # 1 attraction Manny Pacquiao over to the enemy at Showtime Arum has forced HBO to rethink and hopefully retool what they have been doing, (and not doing), and the end result should and could be just what the Doctor has ordered for an anemic boxing community.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the lates boxing news.

By William Trillo

Was that really Ronnie Shields I saw working the corner this Friday night on television? I thought Ronnie was busy watching over Heavyweight Cris Arreola these days? Leaving Arreola in Texas for the weekend with his best friend Henry Ramirez is a recipe for disaster. Almost as bad as leaving Arreola in the incapable hands of the same person who guided him to his 2 disastrous losses…oh…ummm…never mind.

I know I have been screaming from the rooftops that Victor Ortiz should move up to welterweight but this talk of fighting Andre Berto is a bit premature in my opinion. I’d really like to see Ortiz test the waters at 147 pounds before he takes on the undefeated Champion Berto. I hope, for Victor’s sake, that cooler heads prevail and he isn’t rushed into a fight he may not be ready for.

Does Jr. Welterweight champ Amir Khan really think we don’t see through the smoke and mirrors with this Paul McCloskey fight?

Why was Heavyweight Kevin Johnson bumping his gums about fighting anyone on the Holyfield vs. Williams undercard? According to the “Redemption” publicist, Johnson was never a consideration for the card to begin with. Go figure!

I think this tune-up bout  Super Middleweight Arthur Abraham has slated prior to his Super Six semi-final fight with Andre Ward is just what the Doctor ordered. Dude needs to get his head on straight and refocus after his performances in his last two fights.

So who was the 168 pound prospect to watch on this Friday night ESPN2 broadcast, Aaron Pryor Jr. or Edwin Rodriguez? They both looked pretty mediocre to me.

Hats off to Super Middleweight Peter Manfredo for humbling himself on national television by revealing his fall from grace after his season one Contender debut and his title fight with Joe Calzaghe. Manfredo is one of the good guys and it’s good to see him pick himself up and fight on.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo

I made a journey to Las Vegas this weekend and although the ESPN2 show wasn’t on the “big stage” it was a great opening act. One can only hope that boxing will use the Herrera vs. Provodnikov fight as a springboard to a sensational year.  Unlike last year that was seemingly snake bit from the beginning, 2011 has started off with a real bang thanks to the ESPN2 telecast.

I’d be lying to you if I told you I thought either Herrera had a chance on Friday night. The younger brother Alberto was taking on up and coming and highly touted Demetruis Andrade in the Semi-Main and Mauricio was taking on the rugged and undefeated Russian Ruslan Provodnikov, a fighter who has never been embarrassed to go to war. Having seen Herrera fight numerous times I knew the young man was a tough customer on his own, but I thought he would be in for a long night and would come up on the short end of a tough fight.

I was half right. Herrera did experience a long night but he was tough enough and smart enough to come out not only with a unanimous decision victory but he also grabbed the vacant IBF North American Jr. Welterweight strap. More importantly, it was an impressive win in front of a live ESPN audience; we will most certainly be seeing a lot more of him.

His brother did not fair as well but he gave a good account of himself against the highly regarded Andrade. He has nothing to be ashamed of.

Let’s hope the show will be a sign of things to come for the 2011 boxing ledger. With fights like Donaire vs. Montiel, Mares vs. Agbeko and the return of a rejuvenated Chris Arreola we could be in store for a stellar year.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo

As soon as I received the press release from Golden Boy announcing the WBC had voted that Jean Pascal must give Bernard Hopkins an immediate rematch I called promoter Gary Shaw to get his reaction as it is his fighter, Chad Dawson, who would be left standing in the wings if the WBC ruling takes place.

A calm Shaw told me, “We have a contract with Yvon Michel and Jean Pascal and it states that if they wanted to have an interim fight they could, but then they would have an automatic rematch with Chad Dawson.  I’ve always dealt with Yvon Michel as a gentleman and I believe he will continue to be a gentleman and deal with me likewise.

Whatever the WBC ruled, that’s up to them. It doesn’t affect my legal contract with Yvon Michel and Jean Pascal. In the contract it says that even if Pascal is stripped of his title, he will fight us in a rematch. So, if they strip him, then they (the WBC) have stripped their champion, but he still has the Ring belt.  However, how ironic is it that Golden Boy owns the magazine that owns the Ring belt.”

Shaw then reflected on the Pascal/Hopkins fight saying, “Look, Hopkins got knocked down twice and there is nobody that says for sure Hopkins won that fight, they say it was a close fight. Now the fight Pascal had with Dawson wasn’t close but Chad had him out on his feet in the 11^th round, but of course they pulled the shenanigans and the Doctor stopped the fight.

But at any rate, we have a contract with Pascal, and we hope they will do as we would, and honor that contract. I am sure Golden Boy has spoke with Michel many times, but in the end we hope that Michel will realize he has a valid contract with us and will honor it and fight Chad Dawson next. I know why they want to fight Hopkins next, it’s because he is an old man that will be a year older, so in the last time Bernard went down twice, maybe this time he will go down four times.”

In closing Shaw made it clear, “In boxing it’s about time we live by the contracts we sign.”

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo
Photo-Chop: Bret “The Threat”

Got an email from Star Boxing on Monday that I thought you would all get a laugh out of. The headline is a quote from Heavyweight disaster Kevin Johnson that reads, “SOMEONE STEP UP AND FIGHT ME”

That is a very funny statement coming from a guy who blabbed his way into a World title fight with Champion Vitali Klitschko and then pathetically cowered (pun intended) on the ropes for 12 rounds doing little more than bumping his gums at the champ after each round on his way to a complete shut out and embarrassing loss. Johnson proved to be the prime example why American Heavyweights have been scoffed at since the turn of the century!

Now Johnson wants our sympathy as he says, “Let me make something clear, this show is about redemption.  And I am about redemption.  I plan to earn my way back to a world title shot, and it starts with this show.  I want to be clear!”

And how does Johnson want to earn our respect and get the redemption he feels he deserves? By issuing challenges to fighters who don’t register a blip on the heavyweight radar, that’s how!

“Get me the toughest opponent available,” Johnson says, then he lays out his list, “I accepted a bout against Cedric Boswell (41 years old and not ranked in the top 20 by any sanctioning body), only to be turned down by him, then Oliver McCall (45 years old and again not a mention in the heavyweight top 20) was offered, but I heard he was hiding out and didn’t want to fight me.  Finally, I heard that Chauncy Welliver (27 year old who is ranked #13 by WBC and in the top 10 with WBO) wanted to get on the show, but he said he’d rather swim back to New Zealand than fight me.”

If I may translate for the man from down under Welliver, “Why the heck would I waste my time with you when all you are going to do is try to pity pat your way into one of those pathetic unanimous decision wins you have been given?”

Look Kevin, allow me to let you in on something that shouldn’t be a secret to you… Everyone is tired of your act, fighters and most importantly the fans have seen and HEARD more than enough of that tired act, and if we had it our way, you would just go away.

You had your chance on the biggest stage in the world to become “the baddest man on the planet” but instead you just became the worst American heavyweight to challenge for the title on the planet. You had your chance and you blew it.

Now, I realize your promoter Joe DeGuardia has no choice but to send out a press release and plead your case, he has no choice, he is stuck with you. But if you are looking to be redeemed by the boxing public, the way I see it, you got your redemption when after beating a plethora of hand fed stiffs you were given a shot a shot at the title. What you did with that shot is on you and now I doubt anyone will be so forgiving this time around.

I know I won’t!

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo
Photo-Chop: Bret “The Threat”

Anyone who has visited Las Vegas knows there is an over abundance of tribute acts. Leading the way is the umpteen obligatory Elvis impersonator shows, Michael Jackson tributes and Beatles recreations. Well this year “Sin City” will be treated to yet another tribute act. Like the American comedy team, comprising of singer Dean Martin as the “straight man “and comedian Jerry Lewis as the comedic “foil”, Miguel Cotto and Ricardo Mayorga will play their respective roles on March 12^th as Cotto puts his WBA Light Middleweight title on the line. Like Martin and Lewis, Cotto and Mayorga will be bringing their act to Las Vegas, the perfect place for the finale of what is sure to be a one of a kind press tour.

Before you assume that I am going to rip this promotion unmercifully, let me tell you that as far as announced fights for 2011, this Top Rank and Don King promoted show is the one I am looking forward to the most. You can have Manny and Shane, Pascal vs. Dawson or “Canelo” vs. whomever, this Cotto/Mayorga card has all the makings of a sure fire hit.

Yes, I know Cotto is by far the most gifted of the two men and 2 or 3 years ago I may not have been so excited about this fight.  But let’s face it, Cotto is much worse for wear after the Margarito and Pacquioa beatings he took, who really knows how much he can take now? And Mayorga fights so few and far between it’s hard to tell exactly where this guy is at. But we do know he can whack and is willing to fight, so for however long it lasts, “El Matador” is going to make this one interesting.

While Mayorga is the proverbial Class Clown, Cotto is a grimace, he rarely smiles and the next time I see him joke around will be a first. Basically he is a sourpuss and the concoction of this Puerto Rican and Nicaraguan cocktail should prove to be volatile.

If there is a downside to the promotion it’s that the fight will only be available on PPV. As much as I am looking forward to this show I do not know it is a Pay-Per-View worthy fight on it’s own. Hopefully Arum and King will put on an undercard that will make the telecast a worthwhile buy.

I was talking with our writer from Puerto Rico, Luis Cadiz, this weekend and he told me that it is being reported on the island that fans are saying they don’t know if they want to kick down $50 for the fight but they would most definitely pay $100 to attend the press conference.

My sentiments exactly!

I am hopeful that the press tour will swing through the Los Angeles area. And if it does, rest assured I will be front and center with video camera in hand. I can’t wait to see Cotto’s reaction when Mayorga reaches around the podium and slaps him in the back of his head. I doubt Miguel will go all Fernando Vargas on him, but whatever reaction Cotto has, I want to be there to see it, both at the press conference and the fight itself.

I’m not sure if they have named this fight yet, but if you pass along your ideas I will make sure to run them by the powers that be.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

P.S.  Are there really still people trying to find us at Boxing2004.com?   Helloooo???
First of all it’s 2011 and second of all we have been Pound4Pound.com for some 3 years now….geez!!