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The Square Ring
by Howie Reed
April 10, 2004
It didn’t take long for Don King to dip into his
stable of “willing stallions” to set up a mating
(heavyweight tournament) to breed a successor to Mr.
Lewis.
One name absent from the “pay for play” is Audley
Harrison, the likeable POM with the minor WBF
heavyweight title. Harrison’s latest fight was shown
in America with his style dissected by former
heavyweight contender Scott LeDoux (33-13).
He fought and lost to some of the bigger names in the
heavyweight division. Among those that claim a “W”
over LeDoux are Duane Bobick, Ron Lyle, Mike Weaver, Gerrie Coetzee, Larry
Holmes, a young Frank Bruno and George Foremen. LaDoux’s most impressive win
was a draw with undefeated Leon Spinks.
“Harrison is off balance when he throws his jab. By
leaning to throw the jab he takes his power left out
of the equation. He’s got to learn to sit down on his
punches. In his last fight he got hit with too many
punches without making his opponent pay for coming
inside. You’ve got to punish an opponent that comes
in. Make them pay the price.” That ‘s what he did say.
Back to the drama play of the heavyweight division.
Act One, of what will be a April trilogy, takes place
Sunday morning (Pattaya Time) with Wladimir Klitschko (42-2) and Lamon
(pronounced “LAY Mon”) Brewster (29-2) going fist city for the vacant WBO
heavyweight title.
The fight from Fabulous Las Vegas, if one goes by the
books, should be a blow out in favor of Wladimir over
a suspect opponent. Brewster’s main claim to fame is
that he’s promoted by Don King.
Klitschko held the WBO title once before only to get
whacked out by Corrie Sanders in 2. Asked about his
workout schedule Brewster said, “Pray, pray, pray,
train, train, train.” If he’s to have any chance, the
words slim and none come to mind, Brewster had better jump Klitschko right
after the referees says,
“Touch’em up.” Then Brewster should punch, punch,
punch or it’s going to be 8...9... 10. Bye now, see ya
later.
Another fight on the Vegas card on Sunday has
WBC/WBA/IBF Champ Cory Spinks at 32-2 (yes he’s the son of) giving Zab “The
Mouth” Judah (30-1) another
title shot. Judah’s other chance came against Kostya
Tszyu. He got hit so hard he ended up in another
postal code. Spinks doesn’t have kind of power but
nonetheless should win on points.
Also on tap tomorrow is the WBC featherweight rematch between champ Michael
Brodie (35-1-1) and Injin Chi (27-2-1). This fight from Manchester’s M.E.N.
Arena was fought the first time in October of 2003. When first announced it
was a majority decision for Chi
114-112, 114-113, 113-113). Then upon further review,
30 minutes later, by WBC President Dr. Jose’ Sulaiman it was discovered that
there was an “error in the scoring of one of the cards.” Yep someone didn’t
get the message so Chi and Brodie will do it again.
“Remember gentleman hometown guys always wins.”
With the retirement of Svenn Ottke after 21 defenses
of his middleweight title new vistas are on the
horizon for Aussie Danny Green. The plan was for Green to face WBC super
middle Champ Markus Beyer in the fall is on hold. The West Australian Press
is reporting that according to manager/trainer Jeff
Fenech Beyer’s “prople” want to control Greens first
two defenses if he wins. It’s also been reported that
the WBC will go along with that plan. Well with Ottke
gone IBF champ Anthony Mundine is now available. The IBF would welcome Green
with open arms as long as he has an open checkbook. Boxing... ya gotta love
it.
Thai Sintung Kietbusaba (reportedly 1-1) went to Korea
to fight PABA welter Champ Hwan-Young Hwanyung Park (17-4,). Well “Lordie,
Lordie Ms Claudy” the visitor
launched a surprise attack, although it started after
the bell rang so it couldn’t have been too much of a
surprise, to score an unexpected 3 round KO. A
“vicious” left hook got the job done. On the other
hand if the Thai was 0-1 and fighting someone with 20
fights “surprise” would be a word to use. Score one
for the good guys. And another Olympian (1996) WBA#12 Pongsith Wiengwiset
(9-1, 3 KOs) successfully retained his PABA 130 lb title as he won a twelve
round unanimous decision (116-110, 117-110, 117-109)
“Whoops” a couple of times from last week. If you read
“The reason for three fights is that he was
concentrating on kick boxing at which he was world
champion”; then wondered “what the hell is that Yank
on about” let me explain. The sentence kinda got
messed up in the translation from American English to
Thai English. Here’s how it was written. “Also on the
Aussie front got a note from Referee/Judge Cousin
Bruce McTavish. He’d just returned to the Philippines
from “Vegamiteland” after doing the Briggs fight on
March 7 and the Green contest. I had contacted him in
regard to Paul Briggs absence from the ring from mid
1994 to January 1997. Ask and yea shall receive. The
reason is that he was concentrating on kick boxing at
which he was world champion. Good on ya. Fair
dunk’em.”
What’s a little hick between cup and lip. By-the-by
Briggs gets another “final-final” eliminator when he
fights Stipe Drews (25-0). The winner is the official
WBC Challenger for the winner of Jones-Tarver.
Also touted the Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton (34-0) fight
against Kelson Pinot (20) last Sunday. Bad deal.
Didn’t happen. Pinot came up with a “mysterious
illness”, did a runner so former IBF Champion Dennis
Pedersen (44-2) from Denmark stepped in. His only
other appearance on the world stage was when he lost
to titleholder Paul Spadafora on points back in 2002.
Pinot then took 16 months off before returning on
March 4. Fighting Hatten was not a good idea. “Ricky
Hatton ended Dennis Holbaek Pedersen’s brave
resistance after six rounds of his 12th WBU
light-welterweight title defense.” On the same card,
“Sharmba Mitchell was in superb form as he defended
his IBF light welterweight interim title against
Michael Stewart.” The 118-110 came from the referee
who is the only scoring official in the Motha Country.
That sets up Hatten-Mitchell in the summer.
The United States Senate passed a “boxing bill” last
week to place the sport under government control. What effect will it have
on the sport? About the same as closing hours in the Kingdom. Much to do
about
nothing. Let’s have a beverage.
(Opinions and editorials of
HotBoxingNews.com is the opinion of those writers and may not be the
opinion of HotBoxingNews.com)
Want to make contact or comments to Howie Reed
Go Here! mailto:reed@hotboxingnews.com
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