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The Square Ring
by Howie Reed
December 5, 2003
This issue of the Pattaya Mail, as you know, is
dedicated to His Majesty the King of Thailand. HM the
King has ties with not only the sport of boxing but
with the United States. His Majesty King Bhumibol
Adulyadej was born in the United States on December 5, 1927 at Mount Auburn
Hospital in Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
His father was a student at Harvard. HM the King
has been honored for his efforts on behalf of boxing where he maintains more
than a passing knowledge. In December of 2001 prior to the WBC Convention in
Pattaya the president of the World Boxing Council, Dr Jose Sulaiman,
bestowed upon His Majesty the WBC’s “Golden Shining Symbol of World
Leadership Award”. The King had some advice for
Sulaiman, “promote boxing not only as a sport ... but
also as an art of self-defense.” (Some would say that
Sulaiman took that advice when he filed for bankruptcy
after loosing a $35 million dollar judgment). Then in
August of 2003, through the Embassy in Mexico, His
Majesty bestowed the title of “Second Class Knight
Commander of the Most Admirable Order of the
Direkgunabhorn” on Dr Sulaiman - one of the highest
Royal Awards ever to be conferred on a sports
official.”
A Happy Birthday to His Majesty King Bhumibol
Adulyadej.
Well who would have thought it but tomorrow seems to
have been declared fight night around the world. There
are fights of international interest taking place in
New York at Madison Square Garden, in Puerto Rico and at the Cardiff Ice
Rink in Wales. If that’s not an
eclectic kettle of fish, then none exists in the
world. In good old New York, New York, Vitali
Klitschko (32-2) gets back in the ring for the first
time since he gave the Imperial One, that would be
Lennox Lewis what for, against underachieving Canadian Kirk Johnson
(34-1-1). He had a shot at the title held by John Ruiz in 02 and came up
empty getting himself DQ’d. Against Ruiz that takes some work. On the same
card is the exciting “Baby” Joe Mesi (27-0). It’s easy to write “exciting”
about Mesi as he comes in, throws punches and gives 200%. He’s got veteran
Monte Barrett (29-2) who has talent and he is a step up for the popular Mesi.
Eric Morel (33-0) either is or is not the king of the
Flyweights. He holds the WBA title and can count as
one his victims Thailand’s Denkaosan Kaovichit who
entered his match with Morel at 20-2 and exited with a
record of 20-1. That was back in 02. Since then Morel
has only been in the right once which might indicate
some physical problem.
Also on the card in Morel’s home country of Puerto
Rico is WBO Straw Champ Ivan Calderon (17-0) against Alex Sanchez (29-3-1).
On the Ice Rink in Cardiff WBO Super Middleweight Champ Joe Calzaghe was
suppose to put his undefeated record, 36-0, on the line against Mger
Mkrtchyan (18-1) of whom “I know nothing”. Not going to happen. Calzaghe
KO’d by the flu. But still noteworthy, so I’ll note it, is that former champ
“The Pocket Rocket” Wayne McCullough (26-4) gets back in the ring for the
first time since his loss to Scott Harrison. A loss that was predicted by
frequent
Pattaya visitor and professional Scottish fighter Dave
Stewart.
WBO Featherweight Champion Manuel Medina (63-13) spoke ahead of his return
match with former champion Scott Harrison (19-2-1) in Glasgow on Saturday
and stressed the importance of winning again in Harrison’s home town. He
said, “My aim is to show I am the best
featherweight in the world and not that I had a lucky
day. Only by coming back to Glasgow and fighting
Harrison in his own backyard can I prove that my 5th
world title win was worthy of its achievement.” Twas
not to be. Scotland’s Scott Harrison regained the WBO
featherweight title by dropping Medina in the first
and then stopping him in the 11th. Fighting with a
pair of eye cuts Harrison dominated scoring knockdowns in the 1st, 3rd and
the 10th.
If I wrote “WBC #20 Saenghiran Lookbanyai (5-0, 4 KOs) impressively knocked
out Rommel Libradilla in round three in a non-title bout. The bout supported
a Muay Thai at Rachadamnern Stadium in Bangkok,” would that impress the heck
out of you with my vast fund of knowledge? Didn’t think so. Ok, how about
this. WBA #5 Denkaosan Kaovichit (24-1, 11 KOs) captured PABA interim 112 lb
title after stopping PABA #9 Roger Jack Maldecir (18-10-3, 11 KOs) in
Patumthanee, Thailand. The Thai fighter had challenged WBA 112 lb
titleholder Eric Morel last year. In the 3rd a right hook to the head of
Maldecir dropped him on the canvas. Referee Fran Marty stopped the bout at
1:40.
Former WBA superbantam king Yoddamrong Sithyodthong (37-1-1,18KOs) KO’d
Nonoy Villaflor at 1:45 of the opening stanza with a right hook to the bread
basket. Former WBA lightfly king Pichit Siriwat (30-2,13KOs) took the
better part of 6 rounds before getting the TKO over Indonesian Yongkie
Afrizal. Both fights took place in Lopburi. Still not impressed? OK, how
about this. WBA #3 Somsak Sithchatchawal (35-1-1, 28KOs) successfully
retained his PABA superbantam title by stopping TKO of PABA#10 Ibragimov
Takhir on Friday at Pan District, Chiang Rai Thailand.
This is my last try of the week: “Manny Pacquiao was
paraded through the streets of Manila and he starts
shooting a movie on Monday. Plus he got a medal and
$20,000 USD from the President of the Philippines. In
return? He gave Madame President a T-shirt. What a
guy.” That didn’t impress you either? Heck, that’s my
best shot for the week. Do I get an “A” for effort?
Close enough. I’ll drink to that!
(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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