American heavyweights in weekend action
By JE Grant
Despite a landscape seemingly barren of top American heavyweights, plenty of big men were in action this past weekend.
Of course the best known of the crop was Evander Holyfield who is on his latest comeback attempt. This time instead of facing a top fighter he squared off against the little known and less accomplished Jeremy Bates and unsurprisingly stopped the journeyman. Despite the local coverage and some of the blog reporting about how this might be the first step in a comeback bid, most people can see through the illusion. Although Evander may still sport a body that looks like that of a top battler, it is only skin deep. Read nothing into the win.
The fighters highlighted below are either up-and-coming or nearly so. Several undefeated fighters are in the group and some will undoubtedly fall into the journeyman category before long.
August 18, 2006
DALLAS ---Former multiple time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, 39-8-2 (26 KOs), Atlanta, knocked out Jeremy Bates, 21-12-1 (18 KOs) in two rounds of a scheduled 10. Before anyone gets giddy about a Holyfield “comeback” it is worth recognizing that Bates has now lost three in a row.
TAMPA --- Travis Walker, 20-0-1 (16 KOs), Tallahassee, Fla., decisioned Andrew Greeley 11-14-2 (7 KOs) over 10 round. He is seeking a bout with former Olympian Jason Estrada for later this fall.
TEMECULA, CALIF. --- Damian Wills, 21-0 (15 KOs), Los Angeles, won an eight-round decision over tough journeyman Cisse Salif, 18-7-2 (17 KOs). Wills is co-managed by actor Denzel Washington and is seemingly on the rise.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY. --- Vinnie Maddalone, 27-3 (19 KOs), Flushing, NY., eked out a ten-round majority decision over Jermell Barnes, 17-13-1 (4 KOs) (and 0-7-1 in his last eight bouts). Needless to say this win didn’t generate a whole lot of buzz for the club favorite.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY. --- Malachy Farrell, 15-0 (12 KOs), Chicago, knocked out Shannon Miller, 14-2 (8 KOs) in the fifth round of a scheduled eight. To date, Farrell’s record is filled with wins against opponents with losing records. This bout obviously represented a step up for the 26 year-old.
August 19, 2006
RENO -- Eddie Chambers, 27-0 (15 KOs), Homewood, Pa., halted Dominic Jenkins, 9-6-1 (3), in the fifth round of a scheduled eight. Chambers is known for good skills but at about 214 pounds he is smallish in today’s terms. Nonetheless, he’s worth watching closely.
RENO --- Chris Arreola, 17-0 (15 KOs), Riverside, Calif., stopped Damian Norris, 8-2 (6 KOs) in 4 rounds of a scheduled eight. The 241 pounder clubbed Norris to the canvas in a solid demonstration of power.
Despite a landscape seemingly barren of top American heavyweights, plenty of big men were in action this past weekend.
Of course the best known of the crop was Evander Holyfield who is on his latest comeback attempt. This time instead of facing a top fighter he squared off against the little known and less accomplished Jeremy Bates and unsurprisingly stopped the journeyman. Despite the local coverage and some of the blog reporting about how this might be the first step in a comeback bid, most people can see through the illusion. Although Evander may still sport a body that looks like that of a top battler, it is only skin deep. Read nothing into the win.
The fighters highlighted below are either up-and-coming or nearly so. Several undefeated fighters are in the group and some will undoubtedly fall into the journeyman category before long.
August 18, 2006
DALLAS ---Former multiple time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, 39-8-2 (26 KOs), Atlanta, knocked out Jeremy Bates, 21-12-1 (18 KOs) in two rounds of a scheduled 10. Before anyone gets giddy about a Holyfield “comeback” it is worth recognizing that Bates has now lost three in a row.
TAMPA --- Travis Walker, 20-0-1 (16 KOs), Tallahassee, Fla., decisioned Andrew Greeley 11-14-2 (7 KOs) over 10 round. He is seeking a bout with former Olympian Jason Estrada for later this fall.
TEMECULA, CALIF. --- Damian Wills, 21-0 (15 KOs), Los Angeles, won an eight-round decision over tough journeyman Cisse Salif, 18-7-2 (17 KOs). Wills is co-managed by actor Denzel Washington and is seemingly on the rise.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY. --- Vinnie Maddalone, 27-3 (19 KOs), Flushing, NY., eked out a ten-round majority decision over Jermell Barnes, 17-13-1 (4 KOs) (and 0-7-1 in his last eight bouts). Needless to say this win didn’t generate a whole lot of buzz for the club favorite.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY. --- Malachy Farrell, 15-0 (12 KOs), Chicago, knocked out Shannon Miller, 14-2 (8 KOs) in the fifth round of a scheduled eight. To date, Farrell’s record is filled with wins against opponents with losing records. This bout obviously represented a step up for the 26 year-old.
August 19, 2006
RENO -- Eddie Chambers, 27-0 (15 KOs), Homewood, Pa., halted Dominic Jenkins, 9-6-1 (3), in the fifth round of a scheduled eight. Chambers is known for good skills but at about 214 pounds he is smallish in today’s terms. Nonetheless, he’s worth watching closely.
RENO --- Chris Arreola, 17-0 (15 KOs), Riverside, Calif., stopped Damian Norris, 8-2 (6 KOs) in 4 rounds of a scheduled eight. The 241 pounder clubbed Norris to the canvas in a solid demonstration of power.
posted by JE Boxing at Sunday, August 20, 2006
32 Comments:
Agreed on Holyfield JE. I mean...This was a D-level blown-up cruiser that was made to order for him. The ideal opponent to create an "illusion". People forget that he also looked "pretty good" in the first few rounds of the Toney fight, and in the 1st or 2nd of the Donald one as well for that matter. Anyways, this fight didn't really tell me anything, but it did emphatically tell me one thing; the NY "ban" on EH is utter B.S. The guy may never beat the "top dogs" again, but there are still many hvy's (club fighters/journeymen) in their 20's & 30's that he can compete against, and defeat. He is an adult and pro athlete of sound mind, body, and skills, that wants to fight, and should have the right to.
Let him do so.
BTW- I understand Wills had very little am. exp. - but boy did it show. He's not bad, but definetly not "it", or even close.
Also, TERRIBLE the way Chambers and Scott have been "promoted". No ESPN, SHO, or HBO dates? Or OLN dates on the horizon? Pathetic...
* If USA Tuesday Night Fights was still around (I kinda miss that show) I have a feeling we would have seen them a few times at The Blue Horizon...;-)
I also don't understand the lack of promotional effort.
Guess who Holyfield will probably be fighting in November or December?
Or favorite "curiously placed" wbc contender Sinan Samil Sam!
Kinda makes sense JE...(The fight, that is) Sam is amazingly still a top-10 (#5? WTF???) contender, and if EH wins - boom; instant title shot next. I suppose a 43 yr.old EH vs. Sam is about a tossup, but the mere thought of the fight makes me feel a bit cheap and dirty...Time for a shower perhaps, and "alphabet/insect repellent".
;-(
I won't be surprised to see Sam win. He can't punch worth a darn, but he presses forward every round and he can take a shot.
Well, Sam has decent power and a good chin. As long as he doesn't cut, he'll probably take EH the distance. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he won, or possibly even stopped the "old man".
F.Y.I- As for Farrels victory, it was a minor step-up at best. Don't be too fooled by Miller's record. He's a club-fighter. Nothing more - nothing less. He's a former Maddolone victim (good fight though!) and his prior 14 victims couldn't "fog a mirror".
Is there an American youngster out there waiting to be a hero???? :)
Umm...No, JE. I am going to address this issue soon. The closest I can maybe come? An 18 yr.old hvy hopeful and Emmanuel Steward protege named Issiah Thomas. (Just like the B-ball player) According to Steward, he will be the 2008 Gold Medalist, and a world champ by the time he is 23.
(???)
Well J.E, I just recently got another very positive word about young Mr.Thomas from Liahkovich trainer Kenny Weldon. Perhaps this is the youngster wev'e been waiting for...(???)
* Unfortunately, were going to have to wait a few years...
Ask Malik why he hasn't appeared on TV. Where does he see himself in the next year? Why does he think US fighters have lost ground so quickly? Why is he "different" than the other up-and-coming heavyweights?
Damnit...(JE is taking my questions!) Eh, the first two were my main ones as well. Also - I would like you to inquire about fellow Pennsylvania 20-something undefeated hvy (Eddie Chambers) for obvious reasons. If nothing else, perhaps we can get some 'bad blood' going there. Also - I only saw a pic, but I didn't like Scott's weight of 250-something his last time out. He should be 230's, or 240's max I.M.O.
P.S- I will probably be talking/msg with Kevin Johnson soon. Any questions there? I know...
#1 - Why doesn't he use his right hand?
#2 - Why doesn't he use his right hand?
Or...
#3 - Does he realize he HAS a right hand?
*BB*
* Honestly guys, with his size, athleticism, relative youth, (and yes, promising jab) I personally think Johnson may have the most potential 'upside' of any of the young American hvy's.
(LOL) Well, actually...I would suggest Johnson stick with journeymen opponents for the time being. Give him some different looks, and work on his skills. He didn't have the am. or pro exp. that Scott and Chambers do. Those two - really need to at least turn it up a notch. I wouldn't expect a major move up from Johnson until 2008, probably.
As for King; I hear you. But a guy named Larry Holmes once had a famous quote. He said; "You can still usually make more money with King ripping you off, than other guys playing it straight".
Ironic, but true. He may be the devil - but you have to give the devil his due...;-)
P.S- I will inquire about that debilitating stroke. And as much as I LOVE to see a hvy put so much emphasis on the jab, the 'jab fetish' - is a bit concerning, and almost bordering on 'deviant'. (lol)
What about Joe Mesi????? Who will be his 3-121 (1 KO) opponent this time?
***MAJOR shocker/bombshell***
Briggs will now reportedly be facing...LIAHKOVICH.
Unbelievable...
Well, that's much better than a defense against McBride.
Oh, absolutely. This thing still isn't 100% official, at least I don't think it is. Troy has his obvious contacts with the Briggs camp, and I have with Sergei's, but poor Kenny (Weldon) says even he doesn't know if it's a certain go, and I tend to believe him. It's just been a very odd last few months, and this latest development - complicates things even more. This thing has just been a complete clusterf*ck. One thing after the other. I've given up on trying to project things or figure it out!
Just as long as they fight in November or before.........
I think that's a pretty safe bet, JE. I would have loved to have seen Sergei in the ring 3-4 months after the Brewster fight, but it really wasn't entirely their (camps) fault. Alot of "Boxing politics", and a few unexpected moves and circumstances. Anyways, if it IS Briggs, I think it would be great for Sergei. It would be a very well-received and watched SHO main event against a popular fighter, and one that he would probably win.
***Klitschko-Brock Nov.11th***
Nothing official, but It looks like there is a good chance of this. Good solid fight if so, but we shall see...
*BB*
Klitschko obviously doesn't want the easy road.
Klitschko obviously doesn't want the easy road.
You beat me to it 'T.O'...That's about exactly what I heard.
Sam has great power and a pretty good chin. But he cuts too easily. But if he doesn't cut he'll probably take EH the distance. It wouldn't shock me at all if he won, or possibly even knocked out the other guy!
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Prediction: Sinan Samil Sam stops Evander Holyfield.
May not be a bad prediction, J.E. If I were EH & camp, I would try and go after a guy that has a very questionable chin, cuts very easily, or has poor stamina. Why? Because I have my doubts as to whether or not a 40+ Holfield can go 10 or 12 strong rounds, that's why.
I hear EH is now scheduled to go against Ray Mercer. Ho-hum.
Cruiser -- You should have no doubts.....EH cannot go 12 strong rounds.
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