THE LATIN AMERICAN IMMORTALS: Part III By M. DeTyrone

Wilfredo Gomez 44-3-1 (42KO) - Puerto Rico:  IBHOF; 2 Division World Champion; WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion 1977 - 1983 with a total of 17 successful defenses; WBC Featherweight champion; WBA Jr. Lightweight 1985 - 1986; 32 consecutive KO streak; Captured 1st title with just 17 pro fights; Victories over Lupe Pintor, Juan Meza, Royal Kobayashi, Carlos Zarate and Juan LaPorte; Defeated by Azumah Nelson and Salvador Sanchez. 

Jose Isidro “Pipino” Cuevas 35-15 (31KO) - Mexico: IBHOF & WBHOF; WBA Welterweight Champion 1976-1980; Victories 3 over Angel Espada; Won world title at 18 years old; was defeated by Roberto Duran KO4, Thomas Hearns KO2, and Lorenzo Garcia.

Antonio Cervantes 123-15-4 (52KO) - Colombia: IBHOF & WBHOF; 2 time WBA Junior Welterweight Champion; Victories over Alfonso Frazier, Nicolino Locche, Esteban De Jesus, Carlos Gimenez; Defeated by Wilfredo Benitez (17 years old) and Aaron Pryor.

Edwin “Chapo” Rosario 47-6 (41KO) - Puerto Rico: IBHOF; WBA World Lightweight champion 1986 -1987; WBA World Lightweight Champion 1989 - 1990, WBA Super Lightweight Champion 1991 - 1992, WBC Lightweight champion; Recognized as one of the greatest punchers of all time. 

Eusebio Pedroza 41-6-1 (25KO)- Panama: WBA Featherweight Champion; Victories over Ruben Olivares, Juan LaPorte, Barry McGuigan, Rocky Lockridge, and Cecilo Lastra; 19 successful Featherweight title defenses.

Carlos Deleon 53 - 8 - 1 (33 KO’s) -  Puerto Rico: WBC Cruiserweight champion;  12 - 4 - 1 in world championship fights, WBC Cruiserweight Champion 1980 – 1982; WBC Champion 1983 - 1985 with 3 Successful Defenses; WBC Cruiserweight Champion 1986 – 1988; WBC Cruiserweight Champion 1989 – 1990.

Ismael “El Tigere Colonense” Laguna 65-9-1 (37KO) -  Panama: IBHOF & WBHOF; WBC Lightweight Champion & WBA World Lightweight Champion 1965, World Lightweight Champion 1965, WBA World Champion 1970, WBC Lightweight Champion 1970, World Lightweight Champion 1970; Defeated by Ken Buchanan twice, Record vs. Carlos Ortiz 1-2, Flash Elorde, Vicente Saldivar; Victories over Chango Carmona, Mando Ramos, Killer Solomon, Frankie Narvaez, Kid Anahuac, and Alfredo Urbina; A draw vs. Nicolino Locche.

Felix Trinidad 42-3 (35KO) - Puerto Rico: IBHOF; 3 Division World Champion; IBF Welterweight Champion with 15 successful title defenses 1993-2000; WBC Welterweight Champion 1999-2000; WBA Super 2000-2001 & IBF 2000-2001 Jr. Middleweight champion; WBA Middleweight Champion 2000-2001; One of the longest uninterrupted Welterweight reigns; Victories over Oscar De La Hoya was 31-0, Maurice Blocker KO2, Mamadou Thiam, Hugo Pineda was 36-1-1, Oba Carr TKO8, Hector Camacho was 43-2, Luis Ramos Campas was 56-0, Fernando Vargas was 20-0, William Joppy was 32-1-1, Ricardo Mayorga was 26-4-1 TKO8, Pernell Whitaker was 40-2-1, and David Reid was 14-0; Defeated by Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, and Ronald “Winky” Wright.

Oscar “Golden Boy” De LaHoya 39-6 (30KO) - USA/MEX: IBHOF; 10 World Titles in 6 Weight Divisions; WBO Super Featherweight Champion 1994, WBO Lightweight Champion 1994-1996, IBF Lightweight Champion 1995; WBC Light welterweight Champion 1996-1997; 2 time WBC Welterweight Champion 1997-1999 and 2000; WBC Light Middleweight Champion 2001-2003 and 2006-2007, WBA Light Middleweight Champion 2002-2003; WBO Middleweight Champion 2004; Victories over Julio Cesar Chavez (IBHOF) twice , Steve Forbes, John J. Molina, Rafael Ruelas, Felix Sturm was 20-0, Luis Ramos Campas 80-5, Hector Camacho was 63-3-1, Pernell Whitaker (IBHOF) 40-1-1, Jesse James Leija, Arturo Gatti (IBHOF) was 33-4, Ricardo Mayorga was 27-5-1, Fernando Vargas was 22-1, Ike Quartey was 34-0-1. Defeated by Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins KO9, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather jr., Twice defeated by *Sugar Shane Mosley .

Manuel Ortiz 96-28-3 (49KO) - Mexico: 2 time World Bantamweight Champion; 15 successful title defenses; Victories over Harold Dade, Lou Salica, Dado Marino, Laura Salas. Defeated by Willie Pep; only stopped once in 127 fights.

 Ruben Olivares 89-13-3 (79KO) - Mexico: World Bantamweight Champion; WBA Featherweight Champion; WBC Featherweight Champion; Victories over Bobby Chacon, Jesus Pimentiel and Chucho Castillo; Defeated by Alexis Arguello.

Jose Legra 133-11-4 (50KO)-  Cuba: WBC Featherweight Champion 1968-1969; WBC Featherweight Champion 1972-1973; EBU Featherweight Champion twice; Lost to Alexis Arguello, Vicente Saldivar, and Eder Jofre.

Wilfredo Vasquez Sr. 56 - 9 -2 (41 KO’s)  -Puerto Rico: WBA Bantamweight champion, WBA Super Bantamweight champion 1992 – 1995, WBA Featherweight champion 1996 -1997;  3 Division World Champion; 21 career world title fights and a record of 16-3-2; Victories over Orlando Canizalez, Raul Perez, Thierry Jacob; Defeats to Khaokor Galaxy, Miguel Lora and Nassem Hamed.

Luis Villanueva Paramo aka Kid Azteca 192-46-12 (114KO) - Mexico: Record vs. Fritzie Zivic 1-3; Record vs. Ceferino Garcia 2-2; Record vs. Louis “Cocoa Kid” Hardwick Arroyo 2-1 – 1NC.; Was defeated by Sammy Angott, Raul Rodriguez, and Rodolfo Casanova.

Nicolino “El Intocable” Locche 117-4-14 (14KO) Argentina: IBHOF & WBHOF; WBA Junior Welterweight Champion 1968-1972 ; Victories over Takeshi Fuji, Antonio Cervantes, Carlos Hernandez, Defeated by Antonio Cervantes.

Vicente Saldivar 37-3 (26KO) - Mexico: World Featherweight Champion; Victories over Ismael Laguna & Sugar Ramos; Defeated by Eder Jofre.

Marco Antonio Barrera 67-7 (44KO) - Mexico: A 3 Division World Champion; WBO Jr. Featherweight Champion 1995-1996, 1998-2000, and 2000-2001, WBC Featherweight Champion 2002, WBC Super Featherweight Champion 2004-2007, IBF Super Featherweight Champion 2004-2006; Victories over Kevin Kelly, Nassem Hamed, Johnny Tapia; Was defeated by Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao twice, Junior Jones twice, and Amir Khan. Record vs. *Erik Morales 2-1.

Salvador Sanchez 44-1-1 (22KO) - Mexico: IBHOF; WBC Featherweight Champion; Victories over Wilfredo Gomez, Azumah Nelson, Ruben Castillo, Danny Lopez, and Juan LaPorte. Sanchez died at the age of 23 in a car accident.

THE LATIN AMERICAN IMMORTALS: Part II By M. DeTyrone

Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles 77-7 (54KO) - Cuba: IBHOF & WBHOF; WBA & WBC World Welterweight Champion 1969-1970; WBA Welterweight Champion 1971-1975; WBC Welterweight Champion 1971-1975.

Pedro “Toro de Cayey” Montanez 91-8-4 (50KO) - Puerto Rico:   IBHOF; 88 winning streak; Record vs.  Lou Ambers (IBHOF) 1-1, Tommy Rawson Jr., Frankie Klick, George Odwell, Wesley Ramey (IBHOF), Jack “Kid” Berg (IBHOF) by KO5; Was defeated by Henry Armstrong.

Julio Cesar “J.C.” Chavez 107-6-2 (86KO)- Mexico:  IBHOF & WBHOF; 3 Division World Champion; WBC Super Featherweight champion 1984-1987, WBA Lightweight Champion 1987-1989, WBC Lightweight champion  1988-1989, WBC Lightweight Champion 1989-1994, (2 times WBC Super Lightweight Champion)WBC Light Welterweight Champion 1994-1996, IBF Junior Welterweight Champion 1990-1991;  Victories over Ruben Castillo, Meldrick Taylor , Ivan Robinson, Juan LaPorte, Hector Camacho, Edwin Rosario (IBHOF), Joey Gamache, Greg Haugen, and Roger Mayweather. Defeats against Kostya Tzsu (IBHOF) TKO6, record vs. Frankie Randall 2-1, record vs. Oscar De LaHoya (IBHOF) 0-2, Willy Wise , Grover Wiley; Unbeaten in first 90 fights many victories were controversial and have become part of boxing lore; Draw vs. Pernell Whitaker.

Hector “Macho” Camacho 79-6-3 (38KO) -Puerto Rico:  WBC Super Featherweight Champion  1983-1984, WBC Lightweight Champion 1985-1987, WBO Light Welterweight Champion 1989-1991, WBO Light Welterweight Champion 1991-1992; Victories over Roberto Duran twice (IBHOF) was 96-11 then second was 103-15, Sugar Ray Leonard (IBHOF) was 36-2-1 by TKO5, Greg Haugen was 28-3, Vinny Pazienzia was 28-3, Ray Mancini 29-3 (WBHOF), Cornelius Boza-Edwards was 45-5-1(WBHOF), Edwin Rosario (IBHOF) was 28-1, Freddie Roach, Jose Luis Ramirez (WBHOF) was 90-5, Rafael Limon was 50-12-2 TKO5; Defeated by Oscar De la Hoya (IBHOF), Felix Trinidad (IBHOF), Julio Cesar Chavez (IBHOF). 

Alphonso Teofilo Brown (Panama Al Brown) 131-19-13 (61KO) - Panama: World Bantamweight Champion; Victories over Pete Sanstol, Vidal Gregorio, Johnny King, and Young Perez.

Sixto “El Gallito” Escobar 39-23-4 (17KO) -Puerto Rico: IBHOF; World Bantamweight Champion 1935-1937; Montreal Athletic Commission World Bantamweight Champion 1934-1935; NBA World Bantamweight Champion 1935; NYSCA World Bantamweight Champion 1935; World Bantamweight Champion 1938-1939; Victories over Rodolfo Casanova, record vs. Lou Salica 2-1, record vs. Harry Jeffra 1-3, record vs. Indian Quintana 1-1.

Jose “Chegui” Torres 41-3-1 (29KO) - Puerto Rico: IBHOF &WBHOF; WBA & WBC Light Heavyweight Champion 1965-1966; 1st Latino to win a Light Heavyweight title; Victories over Willie Pastrano (IBHOF), Bobo Olson, Eddie Cotton, Chic Calderwood, Wayne Thornton; Defeated by Dick Tiger (IBHOF) twice; A draw vs. Benny Kid Paret.

Baby Arizmendi 84-26-14 (19KO) - Mexico: IBHOF; Record vs. Henry Armstrong 2-3; Record vs. Lou Ambers (IBHOF) 0-2-1; Record vs. Sammy Angott (IBHOF) 0-1-1; was defeated by Rodolfo Casanova.

Alexis Arguello 89-8 (70KO) - Nicaragua: 2 division World Champion; WBA Featherweight Champion, WBC Super Featherweight Champion, WBC Featherweight Champion; Victories over Ruben Olivares by KO13, Royal Kobayashi, Alfredo Escalera, Jim Watt, and Ray Mancini; Defeats Aaron Pryor by KO14.

Ultiminio “Sugar” Ramos 55-7-4 (40KO) - Cuba: IBHOF & WBHOF; WBA Featherweight Champion 1963-1964; WBC Featherweight Champion 1963-1964; defeated Chango Carmona & Davey Moore;   Lost to twice to Carlos Ortiz by TKO 4 & TKO5 , and was defeated by Vicente Saldivar.

THE LATIN AMERICAN IMMORTALS: Part I By M. DeTyrone

Carlos Monzon 87-3-9 (56KO) Argentina: BHOF & WBHOF; WBA Middleweight Champion 1970-1977; WBC Middleweight Champion 1970-1974; WBC Middleweight Champion 1976-1977; World Middleweight Champion; Victories over Nino Benvenuti, Emile Griffith, Bennie Briscoe, Jose Napoles, Rodrigo Valdes, and Jean Claude Bouttier; A total of 14 successful Middleweight title defenses and unbeaten in 13 years with over 81 career fights.

Gerardo Gonzalez aka Kid Gavilan 108-30-5 (28KO) Cuba: IBHOF & WBHOF; Lost twice to Sugar Ray Robinson; NYSAC & NBA Welterweight Champion; Within the Top 5 Welterweights of all time; Victories over Billy Graham, Ike Williams, Beau Jack, and Carmen Basilio.

Carlos Ortiz 61-7-1 (30KO) Puerto Rico: IBHOF; World Jr. Welterweight champion; WBA Lightweight World Champion 1962 – 1965; WBA World Lightweight Champion 1965 – 1968; Faced seven futures Hall of Famers in title fights; Victories over Kenny Lane, Sugar Ramos, Flash Elorde, Duilio Loi, Battling Torres, and Joe Brown.

Roberto Duran 103-16 (70KO) Panama: World Lightweight Champion, WBC Welterweight Champion, WBA Junior Middleweight Champion, and WBC Middleweight Champion; Victories over Sugar Ray Leonard, Ken Buchanan, Esteban de Jesus, Davey Moore, and Iran Barkley; Was defeated by Esteban De Jesus, Quits vs. Sugar Ray Leonard, Wilfred Benitez, KO in 2 by Thomas Hearns, and Hector Camacho.

Eligio Sardinas Montalvo aka Kid Chocolate 135-10-6 (51KO)- Cuba: World Featherweight Champion; World Junior Lightweight; Victories over Benny Bass, Lew Feldman, Al Singer and Fidel LaBarba; Defeats to Tony Canzoneri and Jackie “Kid” Berg.

Luis “El Feo” Manuel Rodriguez 107-13 (49KO)- Cuba:  IBHOF; Welterweight Champion; defeated Benny “Kid” Paret, Vigil Atkins, Emile Griffith, Isaac Logart, Bennie Briscoe, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Vicente Rondon, Jose Gonzalez, Jimmy Lester, and Tom Bethea .

Louis  “Cocoa Kid”  Hardwick Arroyo 176-56 (48 KO) -Puerto Rico: IBHOF ;Colored Welterweight Champion in June 11, 1937; Colored Middleweight Champion; Only Hispanic of the elite boxing’s Black Murderer’s Row; Sugar Ray Robison and Henry Armstrong backed off  fights versus him.

Ricardo Lopez 50-0-1 (37KO) - Mexico: A 3 division world Champion; WBC Strawweight Champion; WBA Minimumweight Champion; IBF Junior Flyweight Champion; Victories over Rosendo Alvarez, Hideyuki Ohashi, Saman Sorjaturong, and Alex Sanchez.

Eder Jofre 72-2-4 (50KO) -Brazil: IBHOF; World Bantamweight, WBC Featherweight Champion; Victories over Vicente Saldivar, Eloy Sanchez, Johnny Caldwell, Jose Legra, and Fighting Harada.

Wilfredo “The Bible of Boxing” Benitez 53-8-1 (31KO) - Puerto Rico: IBHOF & WBHOF; A 3 Division World Champion; In 1981 became the 1st boxer in 43 years to have won a world title in three weight divisions , a 3 division world champion by the age of 22, wins world title at the age of 17; WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1976, WBC Welterweight Champion 1979, World Light Middleweight Champion 1981-1982,  World Jr. Welterweight champion 1976 – 1977, World Jr. Welterweight champion, World Welterweight champion; Victories over Antonio Cervantes (IBHOF &WBHOF)was 106-12-4 Benitez was 17 years old , Maurice Hope, Carlos Palomino (IBHOF& WBHOF), and Roberto Duran (IBHOF); Defeats to Sugar Ray Leonard (IBHOF), Davey Moore, and Thomas Hearns (IBHOF).

Boxing’s 25 Current KO Artist By M. De Tyrone

There are boxers with one KO power and then there are those who slowly break down opponents until they obtain a KO or TKO. Many times it’s due to various advantages of weight and class of opposition. Here is my list of the top 25 KO artists in boxing today. 

1.      Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev 23-0-1 21 KO

The Russian Light Heavyweight has been on a TKO streak in his last 7 fights no opponents has past the 7^th round: Sillakh KO2, Cleverly TKO4, White TKO3, Campillo TKO3, Thompson TKO3, Boone TKO2, Simakov TKO7. Kovalev’s power is brutal one hit power if he catches a boxer with a good punch the boxer will go lights out.

2.      Adonis Stevenson 23-1  20 KO

The Haitian fighting out of Canada is one of the most powerful punchers in boxing today in his last fights he has won by TKO or KO. His victims have been Bellew TKO6, Cloud RTD 7, Dawson KO1, Boone KO6, George TKO12, Alcoba TKO2, and Gonzalez KO1.

3.      Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez  37-0  31KO

Out of Nicaragua Roman Gonzalez known as “Chocolatito” is one of the best boxers in the world with heavy hands that have resulted in 31 KO in 37 fights. The former Light flyweight and now Flyweight has won by TKO and KO in 6 of his last 7 fights.

4.      Takashi “KO Dynamite” Uchiyama 20-0  17KO

The best Super Featherweight in boxing at the moment is the Japanese Takashi Uchiyama with 17 KO’s in 20 fights his victims have been Parra KO5, Vasquez TKO8, Solis TKO11, Miura RTD8, Mukhlis TKO5, and Granados TKO6.

5.      Shinsuke Yamanaka 20-0  15KO

Yamanaka is the best Bantamweight in the world with good boxing and brutal one punch KO power. His victims have been Nieves KO1, Guevara KO9, Tunaco TKO12, Rojas KO7, Esquivel TKO11, and Iwasa TKO11.

6.      Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko 61-3  51KO

Dr. Steelhammer has dominated the heavyweight division in the past decade, and his record show a total of 51 KOs in 61 fights.

7.      James “Mandigo Warrior”  Kirkland  32-1  28 KO

The Texan James Kirkland is a boxer that applies constant brutal pressure and breaks down his opponents that result in a brutal KO or a TKO. Kirkland has demolished Alfredo Angulo in a 6^th round TKO, and savagely beat down a tough young prospect named Glenn Tapia in yet another 6^th round TKO win for Kirkland.

8.      Keith “One Time” Thurman 22-0  20KO

“One Time” Thurman is on a tear in the welterweight division. Thurman is a Jr. Middleweight fighting at welterweight with good defensive and offensive skills. He has won the last 6 of his 7 fights by TKO and KO. 

9.      Danny “Swift” Garcia  27-0  16KO

The Philadelphian of Puerto Rican ancestry proven to have savage KO power his discombobulation of Amir Khan in 4 rounds, the savage KO in 4 rounds of Erik Morales in their rematch showed Garcia has some savage power in the Super Lightweight division.

10.  Lucas Martin “The Machine” Matthysse 34-3  32KO

The Argentinian Matthysse has gained a reputation by being one of the most powerful KO artists in boxing. His victims have been Lamont Peterson in a devastating 3^rd TKO, Dallas KO1, Soto RTD5, and Ajose in a 10 round TKO.

11.  Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters 23-0  19 KO

The Jamaican Featherweight is one of the most power punchers in his division with 6 TKO’s in the last 7 fights: Garza TKO4, Prescott TKO7, Sandoval TKO4, Hector J. Marquez UD10, Berry TKO6, Salinas TKO2, and Munguina TKO8.

12.  Ruslan Provodnikov  23-2  16KO

The Russian has gained a strong fan base due to his will to power and constant brutal pressure that he applies to his opponents. Ruslan is a boxer that will beat down his opponents, break their will and then KO’s them.

13.  Marcos Rene “Chino” Maidana 35-3  31KO

The powerful Argentinian came to fame when he made Victor Ortiz quit and later his fight with Amir Khan. He holds an impressive record of 31 KO in 35 fights, but failed to KO the likes of Erik Morales, Amir Khan, Devon Alexander, and Adrien Broner. His most impressive KO victories currently have been against Josesito Lopez via a TKO in 6 rounds, and Jesus Soto Karass via a TKO in the 8^th round.

14.  Jhonny Gonzalez 55-8  47KO

The Mexican Featherweight is a powerful puncher recently winning via a 1^st round KO against Abner Mares.

15.  Mikey Garcia 33-0 28KO

The Super Featherweight has a good deal of KO power but it has been displayed vs. opponents that lacked defense and already had been through wars. He is currently under the nutritionist Alex Ariza the man behind the rise of Manny Pacquiao through multiple divisions with power, speed, and stamina. 

16.  Marvin “Chavacano Disaster” Mabait  19-1-2 13KO

Mabait is one powerful puncher from the Philippines that should be kept an eye on in the bantamweight division. He recently went in to Mexico and demolished Johnny Garcia with a 1^st round KO for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental bantamweight title.

17.  Sergey Rabchenko 25-0 18KO

The Belarus Jr. Middleweight prospect is one of the best European boxers that has earned him the nickname RabcheKO.

18.  Jorge “Destroyer” Melendez 27-3-1  26KO

The Puerto Rican Jr. Middleweight prospect has brutal KO power but has yet to face top quality opposition in his division.

19.  Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez 51-2-2  28KO

The Argentinian has produced spectacular KO wins but recently has been on a decline.

20.  Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire  32-2  21KO

The Filipino Flash gained a reputation for being a power puncher in the lower divisions, and this was largely due to his size advantage against his opponents. At Super Bantamweight his power diminished and at featherweight it remains how powerful he will be against opponents that will equal him in size.

21.   Juan Manuel Lopez 33-3  30KO

The Puerto Rican once at Super Bantamweight was one of the most powerful punchers and KO artist in boxing, but when he moved to Featherweight his power diminished and so did his defense resulting in 3 recent KO defeats. Currently he has moved up to Super Featherweight will he have the any power I doubt it.

22.  Carlos “Principe” Cuadras  28-0 23KO

The Mexican Super Flyweight has 23 KO in 28 fights when he starts moving up in competition we will see if his power remains.

23.  Julio “Pollito” Ceja 25-1  23KO

The Mexican Bantamweight recently lost to Jamie McDonnell in a 12 round MD, but bounced back by obtaining a 10 round KO victory in Jalisco, Mexico.

24.  Ilunga “Junior” Makabu  15-1 14KO

Ilunga is one dangerous Congolese cruiserweight on his way to fighting for a world title.

25.  Diego “La Joya” Chaves 22-1  18KO

This is Argentinian is one good powerful puncher he recently lost to Keith Thurman, but he will rebound and continue his KO’s very likely.  

2013 BOXING’S BEST

BOXERS of 2013: Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, the WBO welterweight champion / Danny “Swift” Garcia, the WBA Super World Light Welterweight Champion & WBC Light Welterweight title.

Bradley’s victories over Juan Manuel Marquez and Ruslan Provodnikov were impressive.

Garcia proved many doubters in his abilities by defeating Zab Judah and Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse when many believed that he couldn’t.

KO Artist of 2013: Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, the WBO Light Welterweight Champion

Kovalev has KO’d in 2013 Ismayl Sillakh in 2 rounds, Nathan Cleverly in 4 rounds, Cornelius White in 3 rounds, and Gabriel Campillo in 3 rounds.

FIGHT of the 2013: Guillermo Rigondeaux WUD12 vs. Nonito Donaire

Fight was held at the world famous Radio City Music Hall. Where Rigondeaux schooled Nonito Donaire, then crowned by many in the boxing media, as one among the pound for pound list best boxers in the world. In this fight Rigondeaux showed the world that he is among the top three boxers in the world, if not the best.

UPSET of 2013: Simpiwe “V12” Vetyeka WRTD6 Chris John

This fight was held in Australia where the eternal Indonesian WBA Super World Featherweight champion Chris John defended his title vs. the South African Vetyeka, who ends up defeating John. As a result, finally the WBA Super World Featherweight title left Indonesia and will be in play in 2014.

MOST ANTICIPATED FIGHT of 2013: Danny “Swift” Garcia WUD12 vs. Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse

Fight was held in MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena on the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. All 2012 and 2013 the casual fans, the majority of sports writers, and cable networks commentators created this mythological boxing juggernaut named Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse. According to the casual fans and many in the boxing media that jumped on the “The Machine” bandwagon they strongly believed that Danny “Swift” Garcia was a paper champion and most of the hatred was directed towards him and his father Angel’s comments, but on September 14, 2013 Danny “Swift” Garcia with a granite chin and good boxing shut down many skeptics and haters by sending “The Machine” to the junk yard of hype.

BATTLE of WILLS 2013: Timothy Bradley WUD12 vs. Ruslan Provodnikov

This fight was held at the Home Depot Center, Carson, California for the WBO welterweight title. Bradley was coming of a controversial decision victory over Manny Pacquiao and he was out to prove a point. Provodnikov was also out to prove a point and that was to win the WBO welterweight title. These two boxers fought in a battle of will giving all they had and taking all they could, at the end, Bradley obtain a victory and would go on to defend the WBO welterweight title  successfully by defeating Juan Manuel Marquez.

MOST DRAMATIC FINISH of 2013: Zolani Tete WKO10 vs. Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr.

A few months earlier JC Sanchez jr. had lost his IBF title at the weigh scales and was given another shot to regain his title by fighting an eliminator fight vs. the hard hitting, but unknown South African Zolani Tete. Tete arrived in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico as a huge underdog, however by the end of the night Tete would win by a beautiful KO that would send Sanchez on his back to a ring corner resulting in the referee stopping the fight.

MISMATCH of 2013 & KO of 2013: Javier Fortuna WKO1 vs. Miguel Zamudio

The fight was held at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. Javier Fortuna just brutally KO’s a Zamudio who had no business fighting or being in the same ring vs. Fortuna. 

BEAT DOWN of 2013: Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao WUD12 vs. Brandon Rios

This fight was held in Macao S.A.R, China for the vacant WBO International welterweight title. Pacman was coming from a brutal KO at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez in their 4^th fight. The lead up to this fight was full of controversies involving altercations between Freddie Roach and nutritionist Alex Ariza and other members of Garcia’s team. Many questions needed to be answered on how Pacman was going to recover. Pacman answered many questions but not all in his beat down of Brandon Rios with the judges’ scores of 120-108, 118-110, and 119-109. Later we learn that Brandon Rios fails the VADA drug test positive for a banned substance called Methylhexaneamine which is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

COMEBACK FIGHT of 2013: Miguel Cotto WTKO3 vs. Delvin Rodriguez

This fight put Miguel Cotto as one of the most sought boxer at 154, being offered 10 million dollars to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez by GBP. It’s not that Cotto beat Delvin Rodriguez but how he demolished him under the training of Freddie Roach.

BEST of 2013 by DIVISION:

HEAVYWEIGHT: Wladimir Klitschko

CRIUSERWEIGHT: Krzystztof  Wlodarczyk

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT: Sakio Bika

MIDDLEWEIGHT: Gennady “GGG” Golovkin

JR. MIDDLEWEIGHT: Floyd Mayweather Jr.

WELTERWEIGHT: Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley

JR. WELTERWEIGHT: Danny “Swift” Garcia

LIGHTWEIGHT: Terrence Crawford

JR. LIGHTWEIGHT: Takashi Uchiyama

FEATHERWEIGHT: Evgeny Gradovich

SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT: Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux

BANTAMWEIGHT: Shinsuke Yamanaka

SUPER FLYWEIGHT: Omar Narvaez

FLYWEIGHT: Juan Fransisco “El Gallo” Estrada

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT: Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez

STRAWWEIGHT: Xiong Zhao Zhong

The Rise of the Cuban Boxing School M.DeTyrone

In the mid 2000’s it was Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor Johnson 38-6-1 (22KO) who was representing the Cuban School of boxing at the highest levels. Who can forget his three fights where he ended up with a record of 2 wins and 1 defeat vs. Diego Corrales?  In the professional boxing Cuba has produced 14 World Champions they have left their legacy with such legendary names as  Luis Manuel “El Feo” Rodriguez 107-13 (49KO), Ultiminio “Sugar”  Ramos 55-7-4 (40KO), Eligio “Kid Chocolate” Sardinas 135-10-6 (51KO) , Gerardo “Kid Gavilan” Gonzalez 108-30-5 (28KO), Kid Tunero 95-32-16 (35KO), and Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles  81-7 (54KO) , who won the WBC Welterweight Championship by defeating Billy Backus by a 8th Round TKO on June 4, 1971. Napoles obtained a total of 10 successful title defenses until his KO lose in 1975, considered among the best welterweights in boxing history.

Boxing in Cuba is a popular sport with countless boxing coaches and boxers all throughout the island of just 42, 426 sq. mi., and a population of 11,167, 325 million people. The island of Cuba has produced great boxing champions in the pros and in the amateurs which they are recognized worldwide, as a historical boxing power house. In the pro ranks the due to the Cuban Communist Revolution professional boxing was banned on the island, but the amateur boxing remained and was cultivated.  The former North American Boxer-Puncher style of pro boxing was replaced by a Soviet Union system with the guidance of men like boxing coach Andrei Chervorenko. As a consequence, this has produced one of the most historic amateur boxing programs in the world.

Cuban boxers are known as sound technical out-boxer and boxer punchers, and are not the regular human piñatas or meat bags pressure boxers taking five punches in the face to land one punch that you see on the cable networks. Current pro boxers seem not able to handle the Cuban boxing style. Unless they are sound and well-rounded boxers and not just designed to face the style of pressure and swarming boxers.

There is a good deal of great boxing talent form Cuba and at the moment representing the Cuban Boxing School at the highest level. Among them is Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux 13-0 (8 KO), in my opinion, the best boxer in the professional ranks and the personification of an elite boxer. He is the WBO Super Bantamweight and WBA Super World Bantamweight Champion. This 2013 he gave the once recognized by the boxing media “Pound for Pound Elite Boxer” Nonito Donaire, a crash course in boxing at the Radio City Music Hall, NYC in 2013. 

Although the casual fans in boxing can’t evolve past the point of watching two boxers with limited boxing skills beat each other to a pulp, and they believe it’s boxing. It’s boring for them to see the art of hitting and not getting hit. They have been conditioned to see the constant pressure boxers, or they supported because it’s part of their nations boxing style. The networks are responsible and the promotional companies that cater in general to demographics with huge populations. In this era of boxing the casual boxing fans enjoy the glorified tough man contest, and believe that true boxing is a Rocky movie.

The problem is not Rigondeaux’s style but the lack of talent in this boxing era.  Don’t blame Rigondeaux because boxers can compete against his style.  Hopefully, more Cuban technicians like Rigondeaux are given more exposure and the continuous stupidity about “fan friendly style” boxers is put to a rest by more than bias boxing commentators, the causal, and the new generation of fickle boxing fans. 

 The majority of these boxers are based out Miami, Florida where there is a historically large Cuban population.  There  is Yuriorkis “ El Ciclon de Guantanamo” Gamboa 23-0 (16 KO), Erislandy Lara 19-1-2 12 KO’s the Jr. Middleweight WBA champion, Odlanier Solis 20-1 (13 KO), Richar Abril 18-3-1 (8 KO), Mike Perez 19-0 (12KO) and Alexie Collado 17-0 (16KO) both fighting out of Cork, Ireland, Rances Barthelemy 19-0 (12KO) the Super Featherweight contender, Yunier Dorticos 15-0 (15KO), Yodaris Salinas 20-0-2 (13KO), Luis Ortiz 20-0 (17 KO). More Cuban boxers will invade the pro boxing ranks once the Cuban government lifts its ban on pro boxing. In the World Series of Boxing a semi-pro league Cuban boxers are dominating the completion. Hopefully, they will be allowed to box in the pros and dominate professional boxing by bringing it back to its purest form.

This new era boxing fans will likely see the rise of the Cuban boxing school and the rise of boxers from countries that were part of the old Soviet Union. As a result, the possible downfall of other professional boxing schools in this era.

“The Problem” was not Broner for Maidana, but it's Thurman. M.DeTyrone

We see yet another hyped up boxer fall when his is put through the fire. This time it was the turn of Adrien “The Problem” Broner the 24 year old, 3 time world champion in 3 weight divisions, and the WBC Lightweight champion, who moved up to 147 lbs. from 135 lbs. Broner played the role of a villain to the extreme similar to that of a professional wrestler, as a result, he gained much hatred from the casual fans. This was used and exploited by the networks, promotional companies, and the commentators to become this new Floyd Mayweather Jr.  Mega style Pay per View star. Until he met a proven powerful slugger Marcos “Chino” Maidana 34-3 with 31 KO’s from Margarita, Santa Fe, Argentina.

Broner with boxing trunks saying “About Billions” walks in his entourage playing the role of a villain, and trying his best to intimidate Marcos Maidana. By the 2^nd  round  with 2:40 minutes left Maidana lands left hook and drops Broner that was the beginning of the downfall of Broner’s , SHOTIME, and GBP of Broner being a PPV star. The fight went on and Broner was gaining some momentum due to Maidana losing stamina. Until the 8^th round with 1:29 minutes left Maidana drops Broner for the second time in the fight that forced a hurt Broner to hold, Maidana losing patience head butts Broner, as result, costing Maidana a point. 

By the 11^th and 12^th round Maidana was out of stamina and just trying to survive, but that is all he needed to win the fight. No way was Broner going to win the fight without a KO, and he did try to go for the KO but came up short his power at 147 lbs. was no match for a boxer like Maidana that has been against the likes of Victor Ortiz, Josesito Lopez, Erik Morales, and Soto Karass. At the end of it all, Maidana is the new WBA Welterweight Champion for how long it remains to be seen.

According to SHOstats Round by Round Broner landed 122 Power Punchers and Maidana 231 Power Punchers. The fight was ugly and dirty which was full of non-sportsmanship antics by Broner and Maidana; there was everything from elbows, low blows, and head butts, pushing, homosexual taunts, and later the San Antonio crowd very low class took it upon themselves to throw stuff at Broner when the fight was over.   Again, we see Laurence Cole as a referee in championship fights in the state of Texas doing a horrible job and many times favored Broner’s antics without deduction points.

Hopefully, no post or pre fight drug test if any were performed in Texas comes up dirty and there will be no excuses for what was a dirty fight full of emotions.

Unlike many boxing fans I was looking forward for the Keith “One Time” Thurman now with a record of 22-0 1 ND with 20 KO’s out Clearwater, Florida performance vs. the tough GBP gate keeper Soto Karass. During the first round Thurman was hurt but rebounded with good boxing and defense. In the 5^th round with :50 second left in the round Thurman drops Soto Karass with an left uppercut, and that was the point when Thurman showed his power again. From then on Thurman went on to show his defensive and offensive boxing skills and with :44 seconds left in the 9^th round  Thurman lands combinations on Soto Karass that just demolished the him.

I would like to see the WBA, in my opinion, the best sanctioning body in boxing.  Demand that Keith “One Time” Thurman fights Marcos “Chino” Maidana for the WBA Welterweight Title. I was not impressed by Maidana in the late rounds with his lack of stamina and was not able to put away a blown up lightweight in Broner, but was impressed by Thurman’s ability to transition from defensive and offensive boxing in his fight vs. Diego Chaves and Soto Karass. Thurman is the problem Maidana must solve not a blown up hype job named Broner. 

The Top Puerto Rican Boxing Prospects: December 2013 by M.DeTyrone

1.                  Jose “Sniper” Pedraza 15-0 (10 KO)

2.                  Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez 16-0-1 (13 KO)

3.                  Keith “Machine Gun” Tapia 9-0 (6 KO)

4.                  Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle 18-1 (13 KO) - Bayamon

5.                  Felix Verdejo 9-0 (6 KO)

6.                  Carlos Ivan “Twin Dream” Velasquez 15-1 (11 KO)

7.                  Luis Cruz 20-2 (16 KO) – Las Piedras

8.                  McWilliams Arroyo 14-1 (12 KO) – Fajardo

9.                  Jesus M. Rojas 18-1-1 (13 KO)   

10.              Gamalier Rodriguez 22-2-3 (15 KO) – Bayamon

11.              Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez 21-0 (15 KO) – Juncos

12.              McJoe Arroyo 13-0 (7 KO)

13.              Jonathan Vidal 17-1 (9 KO) – San Juan

14.               Luis Rosa 14-0 (6 KO) – Connecticut, USA

15.              Braulio Santos 11-1 (10 KO) – Carolina

16.              Israel Vazquez 9-0-2 (6 KO)

17.              Michael Perez 19-1-2 (10 KO) – Newark , NJ

18.              Emmanuel “Manny” Gonzalez 13-0 (7KO) – NYC

19.              Wilkins Santiago 9-0-1 (1KO) -  Ohio, USA

20.              Reylando “El Maestro” Ojeda 11-0 (6 KO) – San Juan / Canovanas

21.              Vicente Miranda 16-1 (9 KO) – Bayamon

22.              Jonathan Oquendo  25-3 (15 KO) – Vega Alta

23.              Jorge Melendez 27-3 (26 KO) – Manati

24.              John Karl Sosa 8-0 (6 KO) – Caguas

25.              Miguel Robles 12-3 (5 KO) – San Juan

26.              Emmanuel Rodriguez 6-0 (5 KO)

27.              * Thomas Dulorme 20-1 (14 KO) – Carolina ( Dominican Republic)

28.              Gabriel Bracero 23-1 (4 KO) – Brooklyn, NYC

29.              Frank Santo de Alba 10-1-2 (4KO) – Bayamon / Pennsylvania, USA

30.              Eliezer Gonzalez 13-0 (8 KO) – Cupey Alto

31.              Jose Martinez 8-0 (6 KO)

32.              Jose Lopez 10-0 (8 KO) - Carolina

33.              Javier Flores 9-0 (8 KO) – Hartford, Connecticut, USA

34.              Kevin Nieves 6-0 (3KO)

35.              Luis “La Roca” Hernandez 10-1 (6KO) – Rio Piedras

36.              Emmanuel Rivera 9-1 (5 KO)

37.              Edgardo Laboy 7-0 (4 KO)

38.              Antonio “Carita” Nieves 5-0 (2KO) – Ohio , USA

39.              Jose Aguirre 6-0 (4 KO) – Manati

40.              Alberto Mercado 6-0 (1KO) – Las Piedras

41.              Jose Martinez 8-0 (6 KO)

42.              Edwin Soto 9-0-2 ( 4 KO)

43.              Andy Mejias 14-0 (6KO)

44.              Alberto Machado 4-0 (3KO)

45.              Fransisco Almestica Garcia 4-0 (2 KO)

46.              Carlos Narvaez 6-0 (5 KO)

47.              Camilo Perez 9-1 (4 KO) – Carolina

48.              Miguel “No Fear” Cartagena 9-0 (3 KO)

49.              Jonathan Perez 5-0 (3KO) – Moca

50.              Jeffrey Fontanez 12-0 (9 KO) – Caguas

51.              Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez 13-1 (11 KO) - Caguas

52.              Osenohan Vasquez 6-1 (1 KO) – Jersey City , NJ USA

53.              Adner Cotto 17-1 (7KO)

54.              Noel Echevarria 10-1 (6 KO) – North Carolina, USA

55.              Emmanuel De Jesus 8-0 (5 KO) - Canovanas

56.              Miguel Marrero 7-0-2 (4KO)

57.              Daniel Rosario  7-0 (6KO) - Caguas

58.              O’Nell Negron 9-1-2 (8KO)

59.              Jorge Maysonet jr. 11-1 (10KO) – Catano

60.              Miguel Soto 11-1 (11 KO) – Arecibo

61.              Luis Saul “El Zurdo” Rosario 2-0 (2KO)