Boxing Rostrum

Wow! What a thriller. I’d expected a mutually demanding fight alright but what Marcos Maidana and Victor Ortiz gave us last night was, for to-and-fro excitement, all we could have hoped for, and a bit more.

As for the outcome, we are once again reminded that nobody can be regarded as a star in this sport, potential notwithstanding, until they’ve been put to the test and come through. Ortiz was put to the test last night and failed. He got beaten by a more mature man, a proven contender. It was a conclusive defeat too, but while Victor will be feeling dispirited right now his performance was nothing to be ashamed of, or embarrassed by, and there’s no reason why his boxing aspirations shouldn’t remain intact.

In a perverse sense young Victor might even benefit, long term, from last night’s experience. Both guys getting decked in the opener told us what sort of fight we were in for but the crux of the piece came in round two. Maidana was down twice late in that session and if Ortiz could have engineered the situation a bit earlier and had himself more time to press home his advantage he might well have got a stoppage there and then. It would have matched his triumph over Mike Arnaoutis and, for sure, made Victor one of the hottest pugs around.

Instead, Maidana survived and it was Ortiz who eventually wilted, leaving him a loser but now fully wised up about the rigours of the game, which would not be the case had he just added another quick blitz job to his win ledger, would it.

Nobody wants to lose, and nobody likes it when they do, but defeat itself doesn’t mean a whole lot. Even the best get beaten and have to come back from losses. What counts is having the mindset as well as the ability to rebound. That’s what Victor Ortiz is faced with, a test of his mental strength, and I’m backing the kid to measure up in that area and return to action a more aware and better fighter. He’s only twenty two. A championship can still figure for him in the times ahead.

As for Marcos Maidana, what he’s done in his last two fights confirms something that Amir Khan would do well to take on board. WBA light welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik is no bum.

Examination time for Victor Ortiz tomorrow night when he faces Marcos Maidana in an eliminator for the WBA light welterweight title. That’s all it is - an eliminator - no matter what that bunch of morons at the WBA try to tell us, but at least it is, or will be, an informative fight. And, hopefully, exciting.

Maidana’s record of 24 kayos in his all-winning 25 fight career prior to challenging Andreas Kotelnik on German soil in February might have looked frightening on paper but when appraising those kind of numbers it’s always wise to check out the quality of the victims before getting too carried away. Steamrollering a line of lower level triers doesn’t necessarily make someone a killer puncher. Nor does it say much about the fighter’s overall fistic capacity. Such things can only be ascertained by a proper test.

Well, Maidana got his test against Kotelnik and earned himself solid credentials in defeat. Way up in class, against a crafty champ, I wasn’t surprised that the Argentinian’s power didn’t have its customary effect but, on the plus side, Maidana showed he can keep it together mentally when the other guy doesn’t fall down. He also showed he’s not intimidated by a foreign atmosphere and can battle hard over the full title trip. More than that, Maidana fought well enough to have one judge nod his way in what was a tight call on all three cards, so, although Andreas Kotelnik retained his belt, Marcos Maidana had turned in a night’s work that proved he’s a genuine contender.

Tomorrow it’s 22 years old Victor Ortiz’ chance to prove himself. If he licks the now established Maidana, young Vic will make the jump from prospect and grab pole position for a title shot.

To an extent Ortiz is in the same position, or at least a similar situation to where Maidana found himself pre-Kotelnik. Vic has been mowing them down, but most of the names don’t mean a lot. His last win, however, was a good one. Getting rid of Mike Arnaoutis inside two rounds is not something anybody else has come close to achieving, and you can’t deny him credit for that, especially as the Greek’s other two career defeats were both by decision in title attempts against Kendall Holt and Ricardo Torres. Some say the Arnaoutis stoppage was premature, but Ortiz had stunned him and was all over Mike when the ref dived in. Premature halt or not, he did a job on the guy.

When Ortiz and Maidana climb into the ring at the Staples Center may the better man win, as is always the wish, but while my neutrality is for real I won’t be unhappy should it be Ortiz who comes out on top. The sport of boxing needs great, exciting fighters to pull and hold the interest of the masses, but also needs great fighters who are role models that young people can rightly respect, and look to imitate in their manner and behaviour. Too many of today’s sports and cultural icons don’t fit that bill at all, do they.

Victor Ortiz could possibly become a great fighter. Role model wise, he’s already there. There’s no big head in Ortiz. He’s a down to earth Kansas boy who knows his roots and is strongly attached to them, is openly respectful of others, and has a naturally cheerful disposition. It would be great for the game if Victor were to go on to star status.

With that broad nose and dark eyes, Ortiz owns some facial resemblance to a young Jake LaMotta. What he needs to possess, though, is some of the Bull’s durability. We still don’t really know how well Victor Ortiz holds a shot himself but should be about to find out because this South American is coming to fight tomorrow and, whatever happens, Victor is going to get hit. Maidana doesn’t land with the authority his earlier wins indicated but showed against Kotelnik that his blows have to be respected, so if Ortiz gets nailed and doesn’t wobble it would go a long way towards saying that his chin is okay.

Stylistically, an aggressive Maidana should suit Ortiz and play to Victor’s strengths, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. Maidana is a tough guy and this stands to be a hard, mutually demanding fight that might take a lot of winning. In the end, though, I fancy Ortiz’ faster, sharper punching will prevail and, for reasons already stated, I suppose I’m almost hoping that’s the case.

Seems that Setanta TV might be on its last legs due to having overreached by taking on sports events packages - particularly football - the cost of which it doesn’t have the revenue to meet.

If no rescue can be arranged and Setanta does fold it will be a sad day indeed for boxing fans because the channel has given us some top action amongst its wide ranging coverage of our sport, and there is - or was - plenty more in the pipeline.

Collapse of the channel would also, of course, deprive us of the only dedicated boxing talk show I know of, “Bunce’s Boxing Hour.” That programme would be sorely missed by all, but I'm not sure the same might universally be said of its presenting duo, motormouthed would-be comedian, Steve Bunce, (he of the delayed chuckle at his own unfunny utterances) and his tiny stooge, BigBoy, otherwise known as Andy Kerr.

The show bears his name, and he’s a true boxing man who knows the game, but this big star persona Bunce tries to cultivate for himself is out of sync with reality. In boxing, the boxers themselves are the only stars. Absolutely.

Unbeaten lightweight John Murray’s already slow burning career suffered a self inflicted set back on Saturday when he failed the weigh in for his British title defence against Scott Lawton. The fight still went ahead, and Murray bombarded his way to another win, but his belt was taken away and the title vacated, and the Board of Control are sure to impose some further penalty.

Because he was only a couple of ounces over the championship limit in the end, after frantic sweating and a final, naked visit to the scales, Murray seemed to hold a view that he was somehow the victim of the piece. Not so. It was his responsibility to meet championship stipulations and he didn’t do it.

The good news for John Murray is that he will surely be paired with veteran former British and European champ Jonathan Thaxton in a fight that would meet fan demand and also be for the now vacant domestic crown. The not-so-good news is that while Thaxton would take home the Lonsdale belt to keep should he beat Murray, having already won three British title bouts at lightweight, the same would not now apply to Murray.

Had the Mancunian made weight on Saturday his victory over Lawton would have been his second successful defence of the title he’d won at the same Wigan venue by stopping Lee Meager last July, and a fight with Thaxton would then have seen either Murray or the Norwich man claim outright ownership of the coveted belt. As it is, Murray’s unprofessionalism on Saturday may not harm his career too much, if at all, but that Lonsdale belt is something John has wanted since he was a kid boxer and he will now have to conquer Thaxton then fight and beat another Brit as well if he’s to grab permanent hold of it.

First things first. Deciding whether to seek that extra notch or drop the home ambition and look instead to European prizes and beyond will be a choice Murray has to make only if he can get past the hard hitting Thaxton. The good news for us is that that is guaranteed to be a war.

I’m not sold on John Murray’s boxing ability and while he himself is fiercely ambitious his pretensions to world class are exactly that. His defence is so porous he gets banged up round the face, even in average company, and his attacking game, though intense, is an easy read. But I do like watching him perform. He’s all heart and desire. And you don’t have to be a world beater to be involved in great fights.

My idea of top fistic entertainment is not confined to blood and thunder. I appreciate the niceties of the game too, the artistry of great boxers. I could watch Willie Pep all night long. Sometimes, though, the mood craves a manic tear up and - with due respect to Jonathan Thaxton - if I had to do a bit of match making right now to fit that particular bill I think John Murray against Michael Katsidis would measure up to any pairing out there, in any division.

And that also happens to be the one and only high profile match I figure Murray would have a genuine chance of winning.

I guess Joshua Clottey is a better fighter than I gave him credit for, and perhaps Miguel Cotto isn’t quite as good as I thought he was, but I still made Cotto value for the win in what was a good yet at times strange sort of fight.

The last four rounds saw Clottey continuing to pursue Cotto but switching off and threatening a lot more than he delivered while Miguel kept mobile, picking up points as he fled. Some are screaming robbery, but I don’t concur. Clottey just didn’t, maybe couldn’t, sustain the pressure through the closing phase and, for me, that failing took away his victory chances.

The other big factor was Cotto’s cut left eye. Even without that handicap he would have had trouble picking up Clottey’s straight right which came in lightning fast and was, for sure, the most impressive weapon on view. Having to box with the wound for nine rounds, though, was a definite problem for Miguel and although he didn’t succumb to panic, and in fact coped quite well, he’d have been that much better without having to worry about it and keep pawing the blood away.

A big round six was the night’s highlight for Cotto but when he got severe treatment from Clottey through seven and eight the spectre of Margarito must have been right there. It looked like he could fold, and even the wildly pro Cotto crowd might have feared as much, but Miguel hopped on his bike from the ninth on and that took away Clottey’s momentum.

Joshua Clottey has proved he’s got what it takes to fight with any welterweight around. A challenge like he just turned in deserves another. Will he get a rematch? Possibly, but probably not straight away. If they do fight again, who would win? It’s a toughie, isn’t it.

Without having to wear that eye injury for three quarters of the battle I reckon Cotto would have come out of Saturday night with a unanimous decision, certainly not as wide margin a win as I’d predicted but with a clear three man nod in his direction nonetheless.

An actual return fight, however, might be different. This was another in what has grown into quite a long list of gruelling bouts for Miguel Cotto. He’s shown he doesn’t carry hang-ups from the Margarito affair - or, if he does, is mentally strong enough to suppress them - but the physical toll is mounting now. Although he’s still a young man at 28 I’m already wondering how many more of these he has in him. Not many is my guess. And that might well dictate where he goes next. Pacquiao or Mayweather for big money looks the likely route.

Should things work out that way I just hope Joshua Clottey doesn’t get forgotten or ignored in the coming months. He should be right in the mix. If he can’t secure another go at Cotto he’d be well worth his place in the ring against Berto or Mosley or Paul Williams. Trouble is, in boxing, being worth it doesn’t necessarily make it happen, does it.

Joshua Clottey is a good fighter. Proud, solid and determined. But I don’t see him beating Miguel Cotto unless the ghost of Margarito still haunts Miguel’s psyche.

Sure, Cotto had his knockers after that sole career loss, and still does, for the way he retreated and took a knee in the 11th round, encouraging his corner to cop a hint and fly the towel, but what do people want from the guy. He and Margarito put on a great fight, a classic, with the Puerto Rican showing true boxing mastery through the early rounds before Antonio’s unrelenting attacks - illegally aided or not - took their toll and proved too much in the end. I mean, where’s the shame in that.

Miguel Cotto is best judged on the Mosley fight. I’ve always been an admirer of Shane’s all round abilities. He is, without question, one of the best that boxing has seen over the past couple of decades and I agreed with his own assessment, at the time, that he would beat Cotto and maybe even stop him. Wrong call.

Mosley tried to outfight Cotto and couldn’t do it. Then he tried to outbox him. Ditto. In a high quality contest Miguel was that bit better in both departments. The most impressive and, to me, surprising aspect of all was the way Cotto was able to out-jab Shane Mosley. That rapier left really was the night’s tool of distinction. Brilliant stuff from a man who proved there and then he belonged at the sport’s highest level.

Beating Zab Judah by technical decision was a good win for Josh Clottey, and is what set up tonight’s match. It made Clottey a champ of sorts and, in real terms, confirmed him as a genuine player in the division. He was simply too strong for Zab, and getting stronger at the time of the stoppage, and even though Team Judah protested afterwards that the call-off had been premature it was obvious that a fading Zab had wanted out of there anyway.

For all that, I don’t think the Judah experience will have prepared Josh for what he’ll be facing in the Garden tonight. While a lot of people in the game are expecting Clottey to give Miguel a torrid time, some even picking him to win the fight, I just believe Cotto’s in a different league and that the gulf between them will be quickly apparent.

Full respect to Clottey and his warrior spirit but if Miguel Cotto turns on all his jets my reading of this is a landslide decision for the defending champ.

Many happy returns to birthday boy Tyson Fury who’s 21 today. I quite like the guy and I definitely approve of the way he’s livened up a drab heavyweight division over the past six months with his quick mouth and quick victories. He’s an entertainer. And he has the potential to develop into a really good fighter.

That’s what he needs to do, though. Develop. Six victories in less than thirteen completed rounds do not represent the record of a championship level operator and, even though he’d be favoured against most British heavies right now and might figure in some minds to hold a decent chance against the best of them, rushing him is not the sensible way to go.

There’s plenty to be done with the big guy before he starts hunting glory.

Not everybody’s going to fall at Tyson’s feet. Soon enough he’ll meet a fighter who stands up to his punches and fights back, and when that time arrives Fury will be in trouble if he’s never even had lessons in any sort of plan B. Power and malice are handy tools alright and can take a guy a long way in the sport of boxing, but it takes more than that to get where Tyson Fury dreams of going. That takes craft and wiles, things he as yet knows little about.

Team Fury would do well to drop in at the Wild Card gym and try to grab the attention of Freddie Roach. There’s already a Brit connection to Roach through Amir Khan, besides which all trainers want a heavyweight, if he’s any good, so I reckon Freddie would certainly be interested in taking a look. For Tyson Fury, though, the biggest plus might be the presence of Michael Moorer as Roach’s assistant. In tandem with Roach’s expertise, the former champion brings a heavyweight perspective which could prove invaluable.

That kind of arrangement might not come cheap but the biggest profits grow from wise investment. If you want to be the best, working with the best is a pretty good way of going about it.