NASHVILLE, TN (August 4, 2015) – Undefeated super-middleweight prospect, Caleb “Sweet-Hands” Plant (8-0, 7 KOs), will be making his way back to the ring next Saturday August, 15, 2015 on the PBC on NBC event, headlined by Lucian Bute (31-2, 24 KOs) vs. Andrea Di Luisa (17-2, 13 KOs). The fight takes place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. Plant, who’s scheduled to fight in a 6-round bout, will face an opponent TBA.
Managed by Al Haymon, Plant feels his career is taking off. Plant’s fight will serve as the swing bout for the PBC broadcast. Fighting in Canada for the first time, Plant wants to make a sound statement.
“I’m very satisfied with everything happening in my career,” said Caleb Plant, Nashville Tennessee’s rising star. “This will be my fourth bout of the year and I’m very happy to be staying busy. Fighting for Al Haymon and the PBC is a dream come true for my team and me. This will be my first time fighting in Canada so I want to give the fans a great night of action while making a statement.”
Known for having heavy hands, Caleb Plant is looking to extend on his 6-fight knockout streak, four of which came by first round KO.
“I never go into a fight looking for the knockout but I’ve been hurting my opponents in the early rounds,” continued Caleb Plant. “If I see my opponent is hurt, then I go for the knockout. I love to pound the body in those situations. I know with a lot of hard work I can become a world champion. I’m going to take it one fight at a time and give the fans exciting fights. On August 15th, I’ll be letting my hands fly!”
(L-R Trainer Shann Villauer, Standing-8’s Rick Guerrero, Mike Alvarado, Manager Henry Delgado)
One hundred and sixty-two days. To most it means little, a few weeks short of six months, the number of days until a vacation, anniversary, or other special occasion, but to someone in addiction recovery it means the world.
Today, “Mile High” Mike Alvarado is particularly proud of what that number means to him and for good reason. One hundred and sixty-two represents the number of days that have elapsed since Alvarado made his first step towards sobriety.
It’s not an easy thing to come forward and share your past, especially one that deals with addiction, but for Alvarado it is about putting closure on a regretful period while looking forward to the journey that lies ahead.
Standing-8 had the opportunity to sit down with the former junior welterweight champion at Delgado’s Gym in Denver, Colorado to talk about his past, his future, and why he earned the nickname the “Should-er”.
Standing-8 Mike, thank you for the opportunity to interview you and for your willingness to discuss those hard issues outside of the ring, it’s a good thing to tell your own story.
Alvarado-You’re welcome, thank you, yes it is.
Standing-8 I commend your decision to get well, it must have been difficult to take that first step and admit that you have a problem that you need to deal with.
Alvardo- Thank you.
Standing-8 So first, I want to ask how your family is, I know you got married, you were engaged prior to the Rios fight in January?
Alvarado- Yes, I got married; I got a ring on it!
Standing-8Congratulations
Alvarado– Right on, thank you.
Standing-8How are the kids?
Alvarado- Kids are good, they are happy; I get them all the time. I cleaned that up…neglecting my children, living in that lifestyle. I get my kids every day, I have a bond with my kids, I’m the father that I need to be. It’s awesome, my kids are happy; I can’t get enough of it.
Standing-8 You’ve been in recovery since the Rios fight in January, correct? Did you enter rehab shortly thereafter?
Alvarado- Since February, February 18 is my sobriety day. Since then, I’ve been clean. Five and a half months, I’m on day one fifty-something..or one sixty-three, I believe? One sixty-two, I wrote it down on my calendar that on my birthday my sobriety day would be one-sixty one, so today is the day after my birthday so..one sixty-two! One hundred sixty two great days sober, I count it day by day cause that’s all it takes is one day. One day can change the whole effect of what I’m doing, why I’m staying sober, why I’m staying clean. Being here in this gym to make another run at what my dream really is, everything that has happened in my life, the law, the rehab, it all added up to this point now, I’m comfortable with what I need to do.
Standing-8I commend you, that’s a tough step to take.
Alvarado– It was a tough step at first you know, that I’m going to have to live with this humility, but maybe I had to go through it because I wasn’t being humble. I’m humble now; I’m comfortable with talking about it because it was true, you know, I wasn’t living the lifestyle that I should have been living. I should have been. They called me the “should-er” when I was with my counselors; I “should” on myself all the time, because if I just would have stayed in shape throughout that whole process, after the first….ten fights ago, if I would have just stayed in shape, kept focused till now, I’d still be undefeated. So, I would be like if I would have just did it back then.. That’s why they call me the “should-er”, I “should” on myself all the time because I know what I should have done. It is what it is, I’m past all that now, it’s behind me, I’m comfortable with talking about it now because I lived through it. I made a complete change.
Standing-8Can you talk a little about how you decided to make that move and how your recovery is going this past hundred and sixty-two days?
Alvarado– I knew since the Rios fight, January 24th of this year, I knew I wasn’t ready for that fight, I was still fighting that lifestyle, I was still trying to train, I was mixing it all in. I would have never thought my eye was going to mess up, I was going to get a paralyzed muscle in my right eye. I’m kind of glad it did, you know, because that really made me see, hey I could have lost my eye, I could have really lost my vision, it’s not about boxing, I have kids I have to raise, I have a family, I have a life outside of boxing. My health is more important than just being a champion, the money and everything. When I was living that lifestyle after that fight when my eye occurred, I was fed up with that lifestyle. I couldn’t live that lifestyle no more.
I was telling my girlfriend (wife now) it was February 17, 16th or 17th. this was my last time, my last little rodeo of messing up, living that lifestyle. I told her, I’m done with this babe, I can’t live this lifestyle anymore, I don’t want it anymore. The next day, my family comes with an intervention, I had no idea, surprisingly they came, all my brothers and sisters, my interventionist, Henry, my manager, they came. I saved them all the talk, I was like I’m done, I can’t live this life, let’s go….so I entered into rehab, CeDAR rehab, over in Aurora. It was the best decision, the best investment I ever made in my life. Since that day, February 18, 2015, I’ve been clean.
I’ve developed everything in my life, I’ve stacked on a lot of problems, I got caught in the law, I was in places I shouldn’t have been, in the wrong place at the wrong time, around the wrong people living in that lifestyle as well, I couldn’t do it no more, I got caught downtown with a gun, I was with the wrong people I shouldn’t have been with. God willing…God knows that I’ve surrendered my life over to the will of God. He’s guided me through these steps now to be a better person, to be a better dad, a better athlete god willing, you know I’m living through it, it’s a blessing.
Standing-8Who have been your strongest supporters? You mentioned Henry, your manager, your wife, your team, your family, the team that came over for the intervention, so it has been just good family and team support?
Alvarado- Having that support has been the best you know, the backbone to my recovery, to my life, to the lifestyle I’m living now. I got married, the support that I have from my family, Henry, my loyal fans, I’m cleaned up now.
Standing-8 That’s awesome, I’m going to switch it up a bit and go back to the beginning and ask if the addiction was always a part of your career or do you remember a certain fight when you really started noticing that the lifestyle… I mean was it really truly the Rios fight in January or was it several fights prior?
Alvarado- It goes back, I say at least fifteen, twenty fights back. I’m a talented athlete/fighter, give me a ball I’d dunk it, throw me a baseball, I’d hit a home run, boxing I’d be a world champion, wrestling, I’d be undefeated. Hard work beats talent when talent aint working hard. It got to the point as I got older, I can’t rely on my talent no more, I have to work hard now, I have to back up my talent. I wasn’t working hard almost my whole career; I was winning fights just on my talent. I’ve never fought a fight at a hundred percent. Now that I have that clarity, crystal clear with my training, the way I’m living, it’s like now, let’s see what I can do with it. I’m excited, to see what I can do, I’ve not fought at a hundred percent. Make a comeback maybe November/December, get a tune up, stay in shape, win again, make a comeback, I’m only going to get better.
I remember in one fight specifically, about fifteen fights ago, I was in Las Vegas I was in front of my manager Shelly Finkel, he’s like the godfather of boxing, he was there to see me and I was trying to prove myself, show that I’m worth the investment. I remember while I was living that lifestyle, I was fighting this dude that had no business standing in the ring with me, he made that fight a close fight, I looked like garbage, I didn’t feel good. I wasn’t up to my standards where I could have been. I still won but it still wasn’t the best I could have been with my ability.
I knew my talent would back me up, but then, after the fights, I would want to quit putting myself back in that lifestyle, stop the drugs and alcohol, and everything that came with that lifestyle. I would want to stop it but I honestly didn’t surrender myself to that lifestyle till after the Rios fight in 2015. So now that I’ve surrendered my lifestyle over to the will of God, he’s put everything back in place like a puzzle. It was a puzzle that was all messed up and then I surrendered myself; it’s a clean puzzle now. Now I’m working hard, it’s the fight back, the road back to Mike Alvarado.
Standing-8 That’s good, I’m excited to see that. So those nights leading up to January 24th, was that where you saw the issues outside of the ring really hit their peak right before that fight?
Alvarado– I knew it hit its peak, it only showed in the fights, not the first Rios fight, I trained hard for that fight, that fight shouldn’t have been stopped, but that’s the way it went. The Provodnikov fight, I should have been ready for that one, I should have been training my butt off for that, I won the world title, I’m defending it in my backyard, I should have been on my toes, I should have been a hundred percent, no, I was forty percent, fifty percent for that fight, thinking I could just win it with my talent, it don’t work that way no more. Marquez came after that, thanking the Lord above that my promotion still had my back, they are still lining me up with fights. I was a very entertaining fighter that people wanted to see.
Standing-8 You’re out on the streets at 3 AM a few weeks before the Rios fight, when you look back on the choice that you made now to move forward to get that help and turn your life around, do you look back to that night……..
Alvarado- I look back to all of those nights, to all the fights that I should have won, I look back to certain fights that I won but could have won easier.
Standing-8 (Breidis) Prescott? I remember watching you make those slight adjustments late in the fight and thinking you are starting to get to him and that you may stop him, then in the tenth, boom. So when you tell me now that the training wasn’t there and you were winning on talent, I just think about the Alvarado that we will see, one with a dedicated work ethic.
Alvarado- Yes, with that heart, because that was my heart that was instilled in me to come out in that fight and still not a hundred percent. I was hurt with my weight during the whole camp, I was overweight, barely made weight, I was dying for weigh-ins, I just fought out of pure heart and talent.
Standing-8 Fighting at home in Denver, a curse or a blessing?
Alvarado- In the lifestyle that I was living, it was a curse because of the lifestyle I was living. I was letting those distractions let me down and distract me from what I really need to be doing. That’s why my production, my manager, wanted to get me out of here. That’s why I went out to LA, got away, and got my mind-set back to where it needed to be. I trained in my hometown, I was hard-headed, but I love training in my hometown. When I am training here, it’s over, I’m in better shape, the elevation, my supporters, my family, you know, this is my domain, I should be able to train here and be focused and represent my city. But living that lifestyle, I wasn’t able to do that. It was a curse to me because it hurt me; I gave in to that lifestyle. Now? I don’t have an urge, I set my boundaries with other people, the alcohol, if you bring alcohol around, I’m like I hate it, it played a huge part of my life that I don’t want it no more, keep that away from me, it’s like the devil to me. When I did go to rehab, it’s not that I had to detox, I just needed some psychological, someone to talk to me, like hey, you got this, to counsel me in ways that I wasn’t getting through to what I needed to do. I was meshing all that in and thought I could do it. I was taking my talent for granted because I wasn’t backing it up with the hard work. I was taking my talent for granted because I was winning fights, just off my talent, thinking ok, it’s ok if you keep winning fights on pure talent. No, hard work beats talent when talent aint working hard. It came to that point, I’m only getting older, I can’t fight forever
Standing-8I’m going to read a couple of quotes from you and then I want to ask you a question-
Back in 2010, in an interview you stated “I wasn’t living right, like I should have been. I was partying, I was drinking…I wasn’t grounding myself. I had to open my eyes,”
Then after Provodnikov (2013), it was said that you were not adequately prepared, you stated “I have to go back to my training. I have to go back to being healthy and focus on getting it back.”
After the loss in January-
“I was looking at my physical condition, I could have shown heart, but who knows what would have happened after that?” “I wasn’t training like I should have. That’s what I get! I got to get back to the drawing board. I’m not at peace with myself. I’m not going to say I did everything I could to win. I didn’t do everything I could. That’s what I get.”
Seems we’ve been here before, why is this time different Mike?
Alvarado- This time is different now because I’ve surrendered my life over and I don’t have that feeling, like I said in the past I wanted to quit. When I was in the gym and I was showing up to what I had to show up to and talk to whoever I needed to talk to, I was putting on a show, I was putting on a front, I was saying what they wanted to hear. It wasn’t real though but now I don’t care, I dealt with it. All that I went through I live with it. I’m talking about it because I’m comfortable with it now, I’ve put it behind me, I know it’s different, I don’t have those craves no more. I don’t want that life no more. I’ve surrendered my life over and I am comfortable where I’m at. I’m happy where I’m at. I’ve never been this happy in my life. I’m good with never fighting again and still being happy with my kids.
Standing-8 Successful at life?
Alvarado- Definitely, boxing isn’t everything. It’s just what I do to support my family. I love the attention of performing for people, putting a smile on a kids face when they are watching me, being a leader to those who look up to me. Now it’s teaching these kids, the sky’s the limit living the right path.
Standing-8Tell me a little about your work with the kids.
Alvarado- We have these kids come here (Delgado’s Gym), there are a lot of talented kids out there, they don’t have the guidance to be taught what they would never learn, what they would never know because they don’t have that guidance. I’m here, I’m giving back because I want to give back, I had that guidance when I was growing up. I’ve been through it all and I had that guidance and still put myself in places and did things that I shouldn’t have done. So, I can talk about the right decision to make, by them looking at me and listening to me that if I didn’t make the choices that I did, I should be on that poster next to Pacquiao.
Standing-8So, wise guidance again, you are paying it forward.
Alvarado- I’m giving it back, paying it forward, doing what I want to do cause I know these kids don’t have it. I have nephews that their dads are in prison. I’m the only male figure in their life that can help these kids to give the guidance to be better and not make the mistakes I’ve made. My goal is to open a gym for wrestling and boxing; it’s implanted in my brain, my blood.
Standing-8So Mike, what’s next? You talked about a tune up at the end of the year, you have a great team with Shann Vilhauer and Henry Delgado, what do you see for the next year?
Alvarado- I have a great team, finish this year with a tune-up fight, going into the next year ready to make another statement with one of the top ten pros/boxers out there, making my name and a statement that I’m back. What I’ve been through, why I’m back, where I’m going from here. Only time will tell, the fights will tell, my actions will prove and show what it is. One step at a time, I’m taking baby steps to get back in the gym. I’m the heaviest that I’ve been but now I’ve got my nutrition, eating the right meals that are not going to hurt me and keep stacking on that weight, training every day. I’m making them steps man, I’m doing what I need to be doing. I’m hungry for it now. I’m excited, when I got back in the gym I could feel those testosterone levels firing again and I’m like let’s go, I’m back. Before, I kind of lost it, I wasn’t feeling as strong and my blood wasn’t flowing through my system like it is now. God willing, it goes the way that I want it to go. All I can do is pray for it and hope for the best.
Standing-8I’m excited to see the new Mike; we’ll be praying for you. You said once, “The only person who can beat me is me” and I want to close this interview by saying that is true and the road back will be difficult at times but you can be great again. I’m honored to be one of your first two interviews to talk about your past and addiction. I commend you on your candidness.
Alvarado– It’s time, I’m ready to let the world know and talk about everything that I went through.
If Alvarado fought as well as he did with an undisciplined training regimen, a partying lifestyle that led to addiction issues, and a mindset that his talent would always be enough, it will be exciting to see what a dedicated Alvarado will bring to the ring. Most will be skeptical about a thirty-five year old pugilist with several wars on his résumé being a top contender again but in interviewing Mike, something was different about his mindset, his peace. It would be unwise to bet against him.
Alvarado’s last fight was a disaster. By his own admission he should never have been in the ring, his performance, a product of a lifestyle not conducive to his craft. He has come a long way since that January 24th night.
Alvarado will be fighting a different type of opponent for the rest of his life. This fight with no titles on the line and no money earned but with every day that is added to his sobriety he will place a championship belt around his waist.
A resurgence of his career will be a bonus; it’s about Alvarado winning at life that is most important, not only for himself but for those around him; his family, his team, and the many kids who look up to him as a role model.
Special thanks to Henry Delgado and Shann Vilhauer.
Danny Garcia (31-0 18 KO) took his first step into the welterweight division this evening from Barclays in Brooklyn and stopped Paulie Malignaggi (33-7 9 KO) in the ninth round. The stoppage by Referee Arthur Mercante was the kind that some would say good stoppage, some too quick but both would agree that Garcia was well ahead.
Malignaggi did his best work while jabbing high and low and exhibiting excellent feints and footwork but his lack of power posed little threat to Garcia. As such, Garcia was able to control the fight and stalk Malignaggi while wearing him down over the course of the fight. Garcia cut Malignaggi under the right eye in the third and continued to go after it causing Mercante to direct the ring side physician to take a few looks. Prior to the ninth round, Mercante did tell Malignaggi that he would have to see something from him and if he took unneeded punishment he would stop it.
In the ninth, Malinaggi showed little while Garcia landed a crisp combination off of Malignagi’s head causing Mercante to jump in and put an end to the fight.
Malignaggi was not hurt badly but the combination of his cut and the lopsided scores at the time which were 79-73 X 2 and 78-74, apparently was enough for Mercante.
It’s not like this was a great performance by Garcia, he could have attacked Malignaggi and impose his will but never did. It will be interesting to see what happens when a more formidable opponent gets his chance at the new kid in the division.
Malignaggi, a class act who always gave his all, is nearing retirement but he won’t be far as his moonlighting job as an announcer will become full time.
Danny Jacobs TKO 2 Over Sergio Mora
Danny Jacobs (30-1 27 KO) defeated Sergio Mora (28-4 9 KO) in the second round when Mora went down and the fight was waved off but it was less of what Jacobs did and apparently a leg injury that was the culprit.
Mora stated that he “head something pop” in his knee and that he thinks his ankle is broken. The replay shows him going down awkwardly as he was moving away from Jacobs.
The fight started with explosion as both fighters tasted the canvas in the opening round . Jacobs dropped Mora with a crisp right hook half way through the first. Mora was a bit dazed but got up and took a cursory count. Jacobs closed in to finish him and got careless as Mora landed a left counter hook dropping Jacobs for only the second time in his career. Jacobs was probably hurt worse than Mora was but has excellent recuperative powers and was able to land a few more decent shots on Mora at the bell.
It’s too bad that this one had to end the way it did, the first round was probably the round of the year and it had all the signs of a great fight.
Update 8/2- Hopefully the decision will be changed to a “no-contest” because it has been reported that Mora suffered a fractured ankle.
Sergey Kovalev (28-0-1 25 KO) stopped Nadjib Mohammedi (37-4 23 KO) by third round knockout this past Saturday night in Las Vegas. Not a lot of drama leading up to this one, it wasn’t if Kovalev was going to KO Mohammedi, it was when. Mohammedi had some weird foot movement thing going on and never settled in. Kovalev stalked him from the opening bell and had it not been for Mohammedi’s unorthodox style, we might not have seen round two.
So, what’s next for the three belt (WBA/IBF/WBO) light heavyweight champion, a unification bout with the holder of the WBC belt, Adonis Stevenson? That situation changes by the day, the latest a 50/50 offer to Stevenson to fight on HBO (whom Kovalev is in a multi-fight contract with), with Team Stevenson not exactly favorable towards HBO, believing more money can be made elsewhere. Stevenson is advised by Al Haymon, so…………
How about a fight with rising prospect Artur Beterbiev (9-0 9 KO and IBF # 2 contender), a brawler who apparently holds a few amateur wins over Kovalev? The fight would be huge in Russia as they both have roots from the same region. Apparently Kovalev’s promoter Main Event’s Kathy Duva has been in preliminary talks with Beterbiev’s promoter; however, Beterbiev’s advisor is Al Haymon so……
Maybe a fight with Andre Ward, which would fit nicely under the HBO umbrella or a rematch with Jean Pascal who………
Petty Crime If Anything
Jean Pascal (30-3-1 17 KO) beat Yunieski Gonzalez (16-1 12 KO) by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 96-94. Gonzalez was the busier fighter throwing over two hundred more punches but landing only nine more than Pascal. While Gonzalez landed the harder shots staggering Pascal from time to time, the former light heavyweight champion was more accurate and countered nicely while using slick head movement making Gonzalez miss repeatedly.
The fight was close but the decision didn’t resemble highway robbery as most have claimed, at least not from my seat. If anything, it was like filling a large cup up at the drink machine when you paid for a medium. I thought the fight might have been a draw but had no problem with the decision. This was a good close competitive fight and one of the best of the year between a former champion and rising prospect.
I’ll be re-watching that one because I was surprised by the outcry that followed; maybe I was channeling my inner CJR??
Give The Judges The Night Off
It was announced that middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin will face fellow titlist David Lemieux in a unification bout from Madison Square Garden on October 17. Standing-8 had always thought that it would take an opponent with a solid active jab to make things interesting for the “Big Drama Show” and Lemieux has a good one but can also bang with GGG. This is going to be good as long as it lasts.
Photos By Lucas Noonan – PBC
Press Release For Immediate Release
EL PASO, TX (July 19, 2015) – In his first 8-round bout, undefeated Super-Featherweight sensation, Mario Barrios (10-0, 5 KOs), cruised to a sound victory against Arturo Esquivel (9-3, 2 KOs), to record his tenth win. The impressive conquest took place this past Saturday at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas on the PBC on CBS event, headlined by Carl Frampton vs. Alejandro Gonzalez Jr.
Using his tremendous height and reach advantage, Barrios controlled the action with a long jab and precise combinations. Esquivel, who was the naturally bigger man, wasn’t able to land any clean punches on Barrios, who won every round. Scorecards read 80-72 across the board.
“Going eight rounds for the first time was a great learning experience for me.” said Mario Barrios, who is managed by Al Haymon. “I was able to pace myself throughout the entire fight and never got tired. I could have gone four more rounds if this was a twelve round fight. Esquivel is a very tough fighter and I’m glad we both came out healthy. I’ll be ready to get back in the ring as soon as Haymon has another date for me. I’m very thankful for all the opportunities Haymon Boxing has given me.”
EL PASO, TX (July 17, 2015 – San Antonio’s undefeated Super-Featherweight prodigy, Mario Barrios (9-0, 5 KOs), made weight for his upcoming bout with Jose Arturo Esquivel Porras (9-2, 2 KOs), set to take place at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. Barrios weight in at 131.2 while Porras tipped the scale at 131.8.
Barrios vs. Porras will serve as the swing bout to the PBC on CBS event, headlined by Carl FramptonAlejandro Gonzalez Jr. Televised coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT with heavyweights Chris Arreola and Fred Kassi opening up the telecast.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to showcase my skills on an international stage,” said Mario Barrios. “I know there will be a lot a fans tuning in form the USA and the UK. With that being said, I want to put on a great performance. Hopefully the fight makes it to the televised portion of the show so the fans can see what I’m all about.”
Mauricio Herrera (21-5 7 KO) is not a gatekeeper. There have been a few fighters over the past year who have foolishly selected him as an opponent thinking that was the case and right or wrong have escaped with a victory.
Nicknamed “El Maestro”, meaning “The Teacher”, Herrera has been known to school an opponent or two only to see the decision go against him. The problem is, the judges have viewed Herrera more as the student, and themselves, a non-flexible school board voting against a referendum they dislike no matter how good it looks leaking a stench of political bureaucracy.
In his last fight eight months ago, Herrera faced undefeated rising prospect and boxing prodigy, Jose Benavidez. Giving up several inches in height and reach and twelve years in age, Herrera was thought to be a tough “test” for the kid with the solid amatuer pedigree, but not good enough to upset the apple cart…oops.
Herrera controlled the large majority of the rounds by walking down the youngster with excellent head movement and a stiff jab while destroying his body and landing big power shots as they presented themselves. Not surprisingly, according to Compubox, Herrera landed more and was the busier fighter connecting on 295 out of 870 compared to Benavidez, 250 out of 647.
After the scores were tallied, Herrera had lost his interim WBA light welterweight title which he had won in defeating Johan Perez. The scorecards for Benavidez were preposterous, the first, a mind boggling “what the hell fight were you watching- “ score of 117-111 , and two cards of 116-112. The kid had a few moments but surely not enough to take the title and warrant the scores that he received. Most everyone seated on press row had the fight for Herrera by a wide margin. Consider the apple cart annihilated.
Two fights prior to the Benavidez fight, Herrera faced Philadelphia’s undefeated WBA/WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia in Puerto Rico. Garcia, of Puerto Rican descent, would be fighting in front of a partisan crowd but would need to be dominating. Again, enter Herrera, just the type of opponent that would be needed, a tough rugged pugilist who would be just dangerous enough to make for a good fight but not dangerous enough to pose a serious threat to the champion….right?
Oops… Herrera, un-gatekeeper like, frustrated Garcia for most of the night with surprisingly fast hands, an active jab, committed body work, and sneaky power shots while negating Garcia’s signature left hook. Herrera appeared to do better than two of the judges gave him credit for but there he was again, a majority decision loser, 114-114, and 116-112 X2. Although Garcia outlanded Herrera in power shots, their percentage landed was roughly the same. Herrera almost tripled Garcia in jabs landed and held a slight edge in total punches thrown and landed.
This Saturday night airing on HBO Latino from the Los Angeles Sports Arena, Herrera faces another Philadelphia fighter, “Hammerin” Hank (Henry) Lundy (25-4-1 12 KO) for the vacant NABF Super Lightweight title.
Lundy, like Herrera, has also seen his share of close bouts, albeit not as controversial. Lundy’s last fight was also in December where he lost to Thomas Dulorme by split decision and missed out on a chance to capture the WBO junior middleweight title. In the fight against Dulorme, Lundy showed his mettle after being knocked down early and battling back gallantly almost capturing the victory.
Back in 2013, Lundy lost a close unanimous decision to Viktor Postol, and prior to that fight a majority decision loss to Raymundo Beltran. Lundy’s first loss came by way of stoppage back in 2010 to John Molina Jr. by TKO in round 11, a fight he was actually winning handily at the time of the stoppage. Lundy is 3-3 in his last six fights and we have to wonder if the real “Hammerin” Hank will ever stand up.
Interesting to note here is the history of the reach advantage/disadvantage as it relates to each fighter. For Herrera, he seems to struggle against fighters with a shorter reach as all of his losses (with the exception of Benavidez, which was arguably a win) have come against fighters with a shorter reach and those closely resembling that of Lundy. By comparison, all of Lundy’s losses with the exception of Beltran, have come at the hands of fighters with a longer reach, closely resembling that of Herrera. That said, whoever establishes their jab, which both fighters use to great advantage to set up the other aspects of their game, may be an early tell on how the fight may progress.
Both fighters are mirror images of each other in some aspects. They both like to move forward and bang when needed while using an active jab, and committing to the body. Lundy will have the speed advantage, Herrera the higher work rate, Herrera the faster starter, Lundy stronger late.
Herrera could benefit from backing Lundy up and asserting himself early while banking rounds and tipping the score cards in his favor. Lundy, moving inside the length of Herrera to throw punches in bunches and then defensively moving to defend against the relentless counter attack of Herrera may allow him to control rounds.
Said Herrera-
“I feel great. I feel prepared and ready to beat Lundy and if he wants to brawl, box or do whatever, I’m ready. I feel there is a big possibility that I can stop him.”
Countered Lundy-
“He [Herrera] may have beaten another Philly fighter, Danny Garcia, but he’s got to realize I’m another type of animal. I’m a throwback fighter and on Saturday, Herrera is going to see what Hammerin’ Hank is all about.”
This could be a close fight and another scorecard fiasco. If this fight is a draw after the final bell, they need to invoke the ESPN Boxcino tiebreaker format. Fight one more round for all the marbles and if it still is a draw, the fans decide the winner via social media vote. Just saying.
Herrera and Lundy are what is right about boxing, hard working blue collar fighters who work on their craft and come ready to give their all from the opening bell.
A true crossroads fight for both and one that has the makings of something special. The “styles make fights” idiom can be used here with no apologies. When you pit two hungry fighters in against each other, each searching for that one career defining win and searching for respect, we may get something special.
The winner catapulted to contender status in the division, the loser, well, there’s always work for a gatekeeper, buyer beware.
Photo By Team Mayfield
Press Release For Immediate Release
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (July 6, 2015) – After pound for pound king Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) mentioned Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield (19-2-1, 11 KOs) as one of his possible opponents for his final contracted fight with Showtime, the San Francisco native says is ready to step up and give Mayweather his first loss.
“I’m always ready to fight anyone anywhere,” said Karim Mayfield. “The fact that the great Floyd Mayweather has mentioned me as someone he wants to fight in September is music to my ears. It would be an honor to fight Floyd in Las Vegas. He’s done a lot for the sport and he’s arguably the best fighter to ever lace em up. My last few fights have been at 140 pounds and I know the extra weight would make me more powerful. I fought Francisco Santana at 152 pounds and gave him his only KO loss. I’m very powerful and comfortable at that weight. I know I would give Floyd all he can handle. My trainer Ben Bautista and I have a game plan we know will be successful against Mayweather. I’d give Floyd his first loss in a highly explosive fight.”
Set for September 12, 2015, Mayweather will fight an opponent TBA at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. Mayfield, along with Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) are fighters Floyd Mayweather has mentioned as potential opponents. Karim feels he’s the better option.
“No disrespect to Andre Berto, he’s a good fighter and we have a mutual respect for one another, but he’s not as durable as I am. Berto has two losses against opponent’s Floyd has already defeated. I’ve never been dropped, battered or bruised in any of my fights. I bring a rough style to this fight, a style the fans want to see Floyd up against. In addition, the Bay Area is a big media market and I know all my fans here would rise up and support me. My brother La Ron and I, who are independent, sold out my last fight in San Francisco. I’m confident we can bring a big crowd to Las Vegas. It’s only an hour fight away.”
Amir Khan (31-3, 19 KOs), who’s been begging to fight Mayweather since 2014, is another fighter campaigning to fight Mayweather. After sparring Khan on numerous occasions, Mayfield feels Amir is an easier fight.
“Every time I sparred Amir Khan at Virgil Hunter’s gym, I put hands on him,” Mayfield declared. “So bad that Virgil had to stop the sparring sessions. Khan has also been brutally knocked out twice by Prescott and Garcia. The man has no chin and he wouldn’t last twelve rounds with Money Mayweather. He’s definitely the safer route.”
Mayfield, who’s been in camp with Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito and Danny Garcia to name a few, has all the experience needed to give the fans an entertaining fight. He’s beaten many undefeated fighters and has a unanimous decision win against Mauricio Herrera.
“No one can deny my heart and determination to fight the best,” Mayfield continued. “I’ve been the ring with everyone. I soundly beat Herrera, I whooped Pacquiao and Khan in sparring. Shawn Porter refused to step in the ring when he had the choice to fight me or Erick Bone with only one day notice. A lot of fighters have ducked me because I’m a serious threat to anyone.”
Mayfield feels the fans want to see Floyd Mayweather give an African-American fighter a chance to dethrone him. Mayweather’s last seven opponents have been either, Mexican, Argentinean, Filipino or Puerto Rican.
“I think it’s time for the fans to see Floyd give a brotha a shot.” Mayfield concluded. “Shane Mosley and Zab Judah gave Floyd a run for his money. I feel I can do the same but come out victorious.”
Mario Serrano, Publicist Team Mayfield, Press Release
SAN ANTONIO, TX (July 2, 2015) 20-year old unbeaten super-featherweight sensation, Mario Barrios (9-0, 5 KOs), returns to the ring against an opponent TBA July 18, 2015. The 8-round bout will take place in Barrios’ home state at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Texas on the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Marcos Reyes card.
At 6’1, Barrios who is managed by Al Hayman, is rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the super-featherweight division. After campaigning at featherweight earlier in his career, the San Antonio star is getting better with each fight. The move up in weight is not permanent, but something his team feels is appropriate for this fight.
“I feel real strong at 130 pounds and that’s where I’ll be fighting at for my next fight,” said Mario Barrios. “But if a big fight come up at featherweight, I’m still ok to make that weight. With each day that goes by, I feel I’m becoming a better fighter. Every day in the gym is another day that I increase my knowledge of this sport”
Fighting in his home state of Texas is something Barrios relishes. This will be the fourth time Mario will be fighting in the Lone Star State. In his last fight, Barrios defeated Jose Del Valle by way of a 6th round knockout, a fight that took place at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.
“I love fighting in Texas in front of my family and hometown fans,” Barrios continued. “Everyone in Texas loves to see good fights and that’s my goal every time I step into the ring. I want to bring excitement to the fans and my fighting style fits that role. I don’t know who I’ll be fighting on July 18th but one thing I do know is, I’ll be letting my hands go!
Photo By Team Plant
Standing-8 