Don King is gangster, Marquez-Vazquez rivalry, the role of friends.....

The Blackeyed View took a two week hiatus to gather itself from the many lumps it took in that time span, but like Rocky Balboa once said, 'Its not how many times you get knocked down, its about how many times you get up...", I'm back and attempting to catch you all up with this wonderful sport that I always fall back to for comfort. Lots to talk about since my last post.......

Don King is gangster.....

My last post was an exclusive interview with former world champion Ricardo Mayorga on his excursion into the world of mixed martial arts which was slated to take place on May 15th in Fayetteville against veteran MMA fighter Din Thomas in the main event of a card promoted by Shine Fight promotions. Things quickly came apart once Don King entered the picture.

Don King has promoted Mayorga's biggest fights and went before a judge in a Florida courtroom to prove that he had a three year contract with Ricardo Mayorga and therefore could not allow Mayorga to participate in the MMA fight. Mayorga contends that King had not fulfilled his commitment of three fights a year for him and the often times bombastic promoter countered by securing Mayorga a title fight against WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm in Germany this coming September. King argued that any result coming from the participation of Mayorga in the MMA fight may hinder his ability to promote Mayorga's fight with Sturm in the fall. The judge decided to uphold King's position with the provision that King cover a 1 million bond within the next 2 hours. This being a Saturday afternoon and the banks closing in two hours it seemed an impossibility but only in America is there a Don King. King returned within the hour with two duffel bags filled with exactly 1 million dollars! The judge enforced the injunction and threatened the promoters with serious legal ramifications if they would go through with the main event. Things got worse for the folks at Shine Fight Promotions as they were in Florida facing off with King they did not file the necessary paperwork in time with the North Carolina athletic commission to show that they would have medical staff on hand and the commission shut down the entire card. The promoters were forced to cancel the card and pay their athletes without making a profit. The lesson here is, even at his advanced age, don't mess with Don King.

The worse case scenario for the MMA folks but a gain of sorts for boxing as we get our Nicaraguan wild man back in the ring where he belongs. Although Mayorga would have tried his best, its doubtful that he took the time to learn the grappling aspect of MMA and his opponent had been quoted as saying he was intent on taking Mayorga down for a submission hold. As wild as Mayorga is he is best suited for boxing as he can still surprise many, he took Shane Mosley to the limit before succumbing and he has the style to rattle a conventional fighter like Sturm. Felix Sturm is a stand up European style fighter who works behind the jab and carries little pop in his punches, he is best known for losing a controversial decision to Oscar De La Hoya that almost ruined his mega fight with Bernard Hopkins in his first fight at middleweight.

Marquez-Vazquez rivalry ends tied at 2-2

It is fitting that one of the most intense and violent rivalries in all of sports ended up tied with neither man able to claim complete dominance over the other. Rafael Marquez (39-5, 35 KOs) and Israel Vazquez (44-5, 33 KOs) engaged in four of the most brutal fights that most certainly has shortened the careers of both men especially Vazquez. What should absolutely be their final fight took place on May 22nd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA and was won by Marquez when referee Raul Caiz, Jr. stopped the fight in the third round after ruling that Vazquez could no longer defend himself after suffering two nasty cuts that impaired his vision.

The Marquez-Vazquez rivalry featured three stoppage wins, two fights of the year, a dramatic come from behind decision win brought on by a last round knockdown, buckets of blood spilled by both combatants, knockdowns suffered by both men in every fight, momentum changes, and a well deserved place in the boxing hall of fame for both men when they retire.

The following video serves to catch every one up on the first three historic fights.

Their final fight that came two years after their last encounter was evidence enough for Vazquez's manager to declare that his man had fought his last fight. Marquez moved behind a sharp jab and used hooks and uppercuts to bust open a cut over Vazquez's left eye in the first round. In the second round an accidental headbutt worsened Vazquez's wound and they another cut was opened on the right eye by the end of the round by Marquez's precise punching. Although injured, Vazquez's left hook broke through to stagger his rival a few times in the second round enough to win it on the judge's card. Undeterred and inspired by the cuts on his opponent's face, Marquez came out guns a blazing in the third firing combinations that would bring Vazquez to his knees. The gutsy Vazquez could no longer see where the punches where coming from and could do nothing but cover his face as Marquez rained fists on his head. The referee had no choice but to stop the slaughter in the third round.

In his past five fights, Vazquez has been prone to cuts and even underwent eye surgery to repair a detached retina. In this fight he was cut almost upon contact and will probably suffer more cut stoppages if he continues to fight. His manager declared after the fight that his man would retire, but Vazquez himself was non committal after the fight. But in the name of common sense and for the good of the sport and both men, this rivalry should end tied. The sport and the fans can ask no more of these two warriors.

Observations

• On May 15th Amir Khan made his US debut on the big stage of Madison Square Garden on HBO defending his WBC Junior welterweight title against Brooklyn's own Paulie Malignaggi and won by TKO in the 11th round. The eleventh round has been unlucky for Malignaggi when facing British fighters as that was also the round in which he was downed by Ricky Hatton. The plucky fighter who looks like he could walk onto the set of MTV's Jersey Shore, was outboxed by his younger foe and may now have to settle for serving as the gate keeper of the junior welterweight division. As for Khan, during his post fight interview he called out for an elimination tournament in his weight class involving some of the top fighters including Devon Alexander, Timothy Bradley, and Marcus Maidana. An excellent idea.

• On Tuesday May 25th, WBA junior middleweight champ Yuri Foreman held a public workout at world famous Gleason's gym in Brooklyn to promote his upcoming title defense against Puertorican idol Miguel Cotto. Going through his boxing routine, Foreman looked sturdy and technically solid. But I think I am suffering from advanced dementia of some kind because as I watched him workout I was deluding myself into thinking the following thoughts...."he's not that fast, I can catch him." I think I need to step in the ring soon and get a reality check.
• Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum was on hand at the public workout to promote the upcoming fight and all things Manny Pacquiao. He seemed to gleam most when speaking of Pacquiao or the prospect of a Foreman win and what it could do for Foreman as an attraction. After seeing his other would be white hope fighter Kelly Pavlik lose big fights, Arum would love to see Foreman succeed where Pavlik may have failed. Here is hoping that both Pavlik and Foreman have successful careers as boxing needs folks of all strokes to bring in the masses at large.

• This Saturday May 29th, Vitaly Klitschko (41-2, 37 KOs) will defend his WBC heavyweight crown against former European champion Albert Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs) from Poland. The fight will take place in Germany and will be available on PPV. Once again a major heavyweight fight by a Klitschko is being boycotted by the major boxing networks. When will they continue to act like these guys don't exist? Its a heavyweight shame.
  
  

Friends...........

This blog's main focus is on boxing but from time to time I like to use it to expound my views on any number of topics. I'd like to do that right now. Events of the past couple of months have forced me to reevaluate my relationship with some people that I have called 'friends'. I've gone back and forth on the issue, shuttling between distancing myself from people, ex communicating them, forgiving them, accepting them, sending them to hell, or accepting them for who they are. After consulting with some people who's opinions I do respect I have come to a working theory that choose to apply.

I have always believed that in this lifetime you will meet a small core group of people that you can truly call your friends. That core group can be as small as two people or as large as maybe four or five if your lucky. These are the people who you can count on 100% of the time. The ones that will truly have your back. The rest fall under categories. There are the acquaintances, the fair weather friends, the flakes, the party people, and the hook ups. The acquaintances are well meaning people who are usually pleasant to be around but should not be counted on and don't have time to take from their schedules to deal with you. The fair weather friends and the party people tend to show up in the same scenes, usually you see them at get togethers, parties, sporting events and when they see you they will drunkenly declare themselves your best friends and brothers or sisters. But when the party is over, you don't see them till the next event. The hook ups are useful in that you call them because they are a source of something, you usually don't reach out to them unless you need something that only they can provide, whatever that may be. You don't want to be a hook up. Lastly there are the flakes, the most maddening of people, the ones that you mistake as true friends and find out the hard way that they cannot be counted on. The flakes will drive you mad if you let them and at all times MUST be put in perspective.

It helps me to look at things this way, my life is a movie, there are principal characters in that movie and the flakes, hook ups, acquaintances, fair weather friends, and party people are all bit players that have cameo roles in the movie of my life. Calling yourself a friend on my facebook page does not automatically get you a starring role in my film. Not everyone has a big role but every role is important to make up the movie of my life. This is how I have had to deal in order to not break communications with some of my 'friends'. Some of my true friends will read this and some may not. Anyone else who reads this I ask you to think about what role you play in my movie and what role your friends play in the movie of your life.