Carlos González / Primera Hora
Iván “Iron Boy” Calderón respira tranquilo al saber que está a punto de quedar formalizada la oportunidad para retar al mexicano Giovani Segura el próximo 2 de abril.
Acapulco y Cancún son los lugares que se están considerando para el evento.
“Me siento tranquilo porque la pelea será contra Segura. Esta vez la preparación será bien distinta y estoy más motivado. Cuando voy al gimnasio lo hago con una sonrisa, ya que tengo el ánimo para entrenar y por la oportunidad para desquitarme por la derrota”, comentó Calderón a Primera Hora.
En agosto pasado, Calderón cayó vía nocaut ante Segura para perder la faja de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) en un combate que tuvo como escenario el coliseo Mario “Quijote” Morales de Guaynabo.
Segura, por su parte, confía en que despejará todas las dudas que haya quedado de su primera victoria.
“He estado entrenando fuerte ya que Calderón ha dicho que cometió una serie de errores en la primera pelea y quiero demostrar que mi triunfo no fue casualidad”, expresó Segura vía telefónica desde Los Ángeles.
“Siempre había dicho que soy un peleador fuerte, pero Calderón entiende que tiene que rectificar lo que pasó y corregir los errores que entiende que cometió, pues tendrá su oportunidad”, agregó.
Iván Rivera, presidente de PR Best Boxing Promotions, empresa que representa a Calderón, dijo que están afinando el lenguaje en los contratos para que sean firmados.
“Estamos a la espera de que los promotores de Segura acepten unos términos y unas garantías para entonces firmar los contratos”, dijo Rivera.
“Si aceptan todo lo que le pedimos a los promotores de la cartelera, procederemos a firmar la pelea. Estamos bien cerca de que sea una realidad”, agregó.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Iván Calderón retará a Giovani Segura en pelea de revancha
Carlos González / Primera Hora
Los representantes de los púgiles Iván “Iron Boy” Calderón y Giovani Segura llegaron a un acuerdo preliminar para que en efecto el puertorriqueño viaje a México para retar al actual campeón de las 108 libras el 2 de abril próximo.
“Estamos a la espera de los promotores de Seguro acepten unos términos y unas garantías para entonces firmar los contratos”, dijo Iván Rivera, presidente de PR Best Boxing Promotions, empresa que representa a Calderón. “Si aceptan todo lo que pedimos, procederemos a firmar la pelea. Estamos bien cerca de que sea una realidad”, agregó.
En agosto pasado, Calderón cayó vía nocaut ante Segura para perder la faja de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) en un combate que tuvo como escenario el coliseo Mario “Quijote” Morales de Guaynabo. En la revancha, será Calderón quien se traslade a México en calidad de retador.
Según Rivera, los posibles destinos para el pleito son Acapulco y Cancún.
Los representantes de los púgiles Iván “Iron Boy” Calderón y Giovani Segura llegaron a un acuerdo preliminar para que en efecto el puertorriqueño viaje a México para retar al actual campeón de las 108 libras el 2 de abril próximo.
“Estamos a la espera de los promotores de Seguro acepten unos términos y unas garantías para entonces firmar los contratos”, dijo Iván Rivera, presidente de PR Best Boxing Promotions, empresa que representa a Calderón. “Si aceptan todo lo que pedimos, procederemos a firmar la pelea. Estamos bien cerca de que sea una realidad”, agregó.
En agosto pasado, Calderón cayó vía nocaut ante Segura para perder la faja de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) en un combate que tuvo como escenario el coliseo Mario “Quijote” Morales de Guaynabo. En la revancha, será Calderón quien se traslade a México en calidad de retador.
Según Rivera, los posibles destinos para el pleito son Acapulco y Cancún.
Revancha a la mexicana
Casi un hecho que el Iron Boy rete a Segura en su tierra
Por José A. Sánchez Fournier
Iván Calderón podría estar viajando a México en un intento por reclamar su título 108 libras de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB).
El veterano esgrimista guaynabeño perdió su faja mundialista y su marca invicta el pasado 28 de agosto ante el campeón de la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo (AMB), Giovani Segura, quien lo noqueó en ocho emocionantes asaltos en el coliseo Mario ‘Quijote’ Morales.
La pelea de revancha está preliminarmente señalada para efectuarse el dos de abril próximo. Entre las sedes en discusión se encuentran Campeche y Acapulco.
En juego estarían ambos títulos 108 libras que posee Segura.
“Aún no está acordado. Todavía estamos en ese proceso, pero la negociación está bastante adelantada”, dijo ayer Iván Rivera, presidente de la Puerto Rico Best Boxing, empresa promotora de Calderón.
“Ellos nos ofrecieron la pelea y nosotros les hicimos una contraoferta”, explicó ayer Rivera.
“Ahora mismo estamos esperando su respuesta”, agregó el promotor bayamonés. “Es muy posible que se dé la pelea allá en México, pero no es 100 por ciento seguro”.
“Esperamos que nos envíen los contratos con la cantidad que nosotros solicitamos. Si es así, si están de acuerdo, los firmamos”, dijo Rivera.
Calderón (34-1-1, 6 nocauts) no ha peleado desde que Segura (26-1-1, 22 nocauts) lo derrotó.
El mexicano, por su parte, ha hecho una pelea de título desde entonces. El 27 de noviembre noqueó en siete asaltos a Manuel ‘Chango’ Vargas, en el Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana.
Para ese combate, Segura pesó 113 ¾ libras.
Por José A. Sánchez Fournier
Iván Calderón podría estar viajando a México en un intento por reclamar su título 108 libras de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB).
El veterano esgrimista guaynabeño perdió su faja mundialista y su marca invicta el pasado 28 de agosto ante el campeón de la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo (AMB), Giovani Segura, quien lo noqueó en ocho emocionantes asaltos en el coliseo Mario ‘Quijote’ Morales.
La pelea de revancha está preliminarmente señalada para efectuarse el dos de abril próximo. Entre las sedes en discusión se encuentran Campeche y Acapulco.
En juego estarían ambos títulos 108 libras que posee Segura.
“Aún no está acordado. Todavía estamos en ese proceso, pero la negociación está bastante adelantada”, dijo ayer Iván Rivera, presidente de la Puerto Rico Best Boxing, empresa promotora de Calderón.
“Ellos nos ofrecieron la pelea y nosotros les hicimos una contraoferta”, explicó ayer Rivera.
“Ahora mismo estamos esperando su respuesta”, agregó el promotor bayamonés. “Es muy posible que se dé la pelea allá en México, pero no es 100 por ciento seguro”.
“Esperamos que nos envíen los contratos con la cantidad que nosotros solicitamos. Si es así, si están de acuerdo, los firmamos”, dijo Rivera.
Calderón (34-1-1, 6 nocauts) no ha peleado desde que Segura (26-1-1, 22 nocauts) lo derrotó.
El mexicano, por su parte, ha hecho una pelea de título desde entonces. El 27 de noviembre noqueó en siete asaltos a Manuel ‘Chango’ Vargas, en el Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana.
Para ese combate, Segura pesó 113 ¾ libras.
Ivan Calderon Vows To Get Revenge on Giovani Segura
By Jhonny Gonzalez
Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon (34-1, 6KOs) has vowed to get revenge on his Mexican rival, Giovani Segura (26-1, 22KOs), when the two boxers meet in a rematch on April 2 in Mexico. Last August Segura traveled to Puerto Rico and knocked out Calderon in eight rounds to unify the WBO/WBA junior flyweight titles. This time Calderon will face Segura before a hostile Mexican crowd. The former champion is confident he can turn things around in the rematch.
"This time the preparation is very different and I am more motivated. When I do go to the gym, I go there with a smile, because I have to train the mindset that I have the opportunity to get revenge for that defeat," Calderon told Carlos Gonzalez.
Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon (34-1, 6KOs) has vowed to get revenge on his Mexican rival, Giovani Segura (26-1, 22KOs), when the two boxers meet in a rematch on April 2 in Mexico. Last August Segura traveled to Puerto Rico and knocked out Calderon in eight rounds to unify the WBO/WBA junior flyweight titles. This time Calderon will face Segura before a hostile Mexican crowd. The former champion is confident he can turn things around in the rematch.
"This time the preparation is very different and I am more motivated. When I do go to the gym, I go there with a smile, because I have to train the mindset that I have the opportunity to get revenge for that defeat," Calderon told Carlos Gonzalez.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Segura, Calderon Agree To Do It Again on 4/2 in Mexico
By Miguel Angel Cebreros, notifight.com
This past weekend, the two sides finally came to an agreement for the highly anticipated rematch between Giovanni Segura (26-1, 22KOs) of Mexico, and Ivan Calderon (34-1, 6KOs) of Puerto Rico. The fight will be held in Mexico at a location to be determined, but it could be in Campeche or Acapulco. Reports indicate the fight will be held at the junior flyweight limit of 108-pounds. In the first bout that was held in August, Segura traveled to Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, to stop Calderón in eight rounds to unify the WBA/WBO titles.
This past weekend, the two sides finally came to an agreement for the highly anticipated rematch between Giovanni Segura (26-1, 22KOs) of Mexico, and Ivan Calderon (34-1, 6KOs) of Puerto Rico. The fight will be held in Mexico at a location to be determined, but it could be in Campeche or Acapulco. Reports indicate the fight will be held at the junior flyweight limit of 108-pounds. In the first bout that was held in August, Segura traveled to Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, to stop Calderón in eight rounds to unify the WBA/WBO titles.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Top 25 Fighters of the 00’s: Part II: 11 Through 25
By Cliff Rold
Ten years goes by fast. The first truly great fight of the decade, Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales I, doesn’t feel like that long ago.
Then again, neither do the primes of Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard.
The point is time passes quickly. Once a year, the world acknowledges that with remembrances of the last twelve months. Those aren’t too difficult. They work the short term memory, picking out those things which still felt vital in the time of their selection. A whole decade can be more difficult, forcing a harder look at the pockets of time, comparing moments of greatness to longer bodies of work.
Voting was solicited amongst the BoxingScene staff for top ten’s of the decade but some went above and beyond in their considerations and rated more. Many of those votes are included and reflected here as well; all fighters from 18 forward received editorial voting consideration.
This fighter review, a look back at the best of the 00’s, began previously by examining fighters who just missed the cut . Today, attention turns to the first fifteen fighters who did. Remarkably, in a supposed down decade, there is not a single fighter who doesn’t deserve to be at least voted on for the Hall of Fame and there are less than a handful that aren’t almost guaranteed enshrinement.
In other words, contrary to oft heard complaints, no matter how much time passes they still make plenty like them like they always have. On to number 25…
25) Veeraphol Sahaprom – Bantamweight
Record: 66-4-2, 47 KO, 3 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 42-3-2, 29 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: None
Belts Held: WBC Bantamweight carried over from the 90s-2005, 12 Defenses in the 00’s
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Toshiaki Nishioka (UD12, UD 12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat or Draw: Toshiaki Nishioka (D12, D12); Hozumi Hasegawa (L12, TKO by 9)
Why He’s Here: Still active today at age 41, the all-action Sahaprom is long past the days when he stood out as one of the very best of the vibrant Thai boxing market and a consistent force at or near the top of the Bantamweight division. Already into his second Bantamweight title reign as the decade began, Sahaprom was one of the most active fighters of the period while getting within two of Orlando Canizales’s consecutive Bantamweight defense record of sixteen. Some of his challengers were lackluster, but there was enough quality to merit a look. Hugo Dianzo and Adan Vargas were both tough outs. His four-fight rivalry with Nishioka has grown in quality with Nishioka’s recent rise in weight and title win at Jr. Featherweight. It took until April 2005 to move Sahaprom off his perch, Hasegawa taking the title in a close and competitive encounter. It was to be Sahaprom’s last real hurrah. Nearing middle age, he suffered a knockout to Hasegawa in the rematch the following year and was stopped in 2008 by Vusi Malinga. His lengthy title reign and endurance at 118 lbs. could have been enhanced with unification contests, and wins in such would have aided his standing.
24) Diego Corrales – Jr. Lightweight/Lightweight/Welterweight
Record: 40-5, 33 KO, 3 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 10-5, 9 KO, 3 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Lightweight 2005-06
Belts Held: IBF Jr. Lightweight carried over from the 90s-2000, 2 Defenses in the 00’s; WBO Jr. Lightweight 2004; WBO Lightweight 2004-05, 1 Defense; Ring/WBO/WBC Lightweight 2005-06
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: 2005 – Ring/BWAA: TKO10 Jose Luis Castillo
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Derrick Gainer (TKO3); Joel Casamayor (SD12); Acelino Freitas (TKO10); Jose Luis Castillo (TKO10)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Floyd Mayweather (TKO by 10); Joel Casamayor (TKO by 6, L12); Jose Luis Castillo (KO by 4); Joshua Clottey (L10)
Why He’s Here: As already revealed, the legacy of the late “Chico” Corrales was sealed in the decade’s best fight and, arguably, the greatest Lightweight championship contest ever. He was neck and neck with Arturo Gatti and Erik Morales as the most consistently thrilling fighter in the game at his peak. While a flawed fighter whose chin could never quite keep up with his heart or devastating punching power, Corrales had an impressive run of wins from 2004-05 which included the decision over Casamayor, making Freitas quit, and of course the knockout of Castillo. Weighed against him are the following factors: he didn’t win a round against Mayweather, lost two of three to Casamayor, and arguably cheated to defeat Castillo (only to be cheated in the rematch when Castillo appeared to make no effort to make weight for the contest). There was also important time lost in his physical prime due to a prison stay for spousal abuse.
23) Joel Casamayor – Jr. Lightweight/Lightweight
Record: 37-4-1, 22 KO, 1 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 17-4, 10 KO, 1 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Lightweight 2006-08, 2 Defenses
Belts Held: WBA Jr. Lightweight 2000-02, 4 Defenses; Ring/WBC Lightweight 2006-07; Ring/interim WBC 2007; Ring/interim WBO 2008; Ring 2008
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Jong Kwan Baek (TKO5); Roberto Garcia (TKO9); Nate Campbell (UD10); Diego Corrales (TKO6, SD12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Acelino Freitas (L12); Diego Corrales (L12); Jose Luis Castillo (L12); Juan Manuel Marquez (TKO by 11)
Why He’s Here: A Cuban defector to the free world, the southpaw Casamayor enriched himself and the sport with technical precision, nasty temperament, and no fear of the occasional brawl. Beginning the decade with a cut stoppage of Baek for the WBA title at 130 lbs., Casamayor fought most of the best at Jr. Lightweight and Lightweight and won more than he lost. To his credit, the losses to Freitas, Corrales, and Castillo all came in memorable affairs and all could have gone the other way. So too could some of his wins as Nate Campbell made a case for victory and Jose Armando Santa Cruz not only made a case but flat out defeated Casamayor for the Lightweight title only to fall victim to one the worst decisions of the last ten years. His lone stoppage loss came to a great fighter, in a largely unseen but excellent battle with Marquez while already 37 years old. His being the ultimate victor over Corrales in their three fight rivalry gives him the edge here over his rival.
22) Kostya Tszyu – Jr. Welterweight
Record: 31-2, 25 KO, 2 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 8-1, 6 KO
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Welterweight 2001-05, 3 Defenses
Belts Held: WBC Jr. Welterweight carried over from the 90s-2001, 3 Defenses in the 00’s; WBC/WBA 2001, 2 Defenses; Ring/WBC/WBA/IBF 2001-05, 3 Defenses
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Julio Cesar Chavez (TKO6); Sharmba Mitchell (RTD7, TKO3); Zab Judah (TKO2); Jesse James Leija (TKO6)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Ricky Hatton (RTD11)
Why He’s Here: While only active for the first six years of the 00’s, this was the decade where Tszyu defined his career and place among the great Jr. Welterweights. Without a rash of injuries which stifled his career between the unification of the 140 lb. crown and the loss of it to Hatton in 2005, Tszyu likely places even higher. In 2001, an unofficial tournament at Jr. Welterweight, fueled by Showtime, was begun with Tszyu’s awkward first win over Mitchell. Anticipating a showdown with Judah, Tszyu made the younger man wait while he handled Oktay Urkal, enduring barbs and taunts in the build to a showdown. When they finally got in the ring in November 2001, the then-undefeated Judah had a blazing first two minutes but, following a short hook, was in full retreat mode into the second round before finally being leveled with a laser right hand. Tszyu would win only three more fights as he battled training ailments, the last of them a career best destruction of Mitchell in November 2004, before surrendering on his stool to Hatton in his final fight. Tszyu is expected to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) later this year, his first year of eligibility.
21) Lennox Lewis – Heavyweight
Record: 41-2-1, 32 KO
Record in the 00’s: 6-1, 6 KO
Lineal Championships: World Heavyweight 1998-01, 3 defenses in 2000; 01-03, 2 Defenses
Belts Held: IBF/WBC (lost and regained)
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Frans Botha (TKO2); Hasim Rahman (KO4); Mike Tyson (KO8); Vitali Klitschko (TKO6)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Hasim Rahman (KO by 5)
Why He’s Here: Lewis has been gone so long that he’s already a member of the IBHOF. Largely a product of the 1990s, when that decade ended Lewis was the newly crowned undisputed Heavyweight king after capturing the lineal crown in 1998. However, it was his performances in the first four years of the 00’s that firmly pushed him into discussions with the immortal big men. 2000 may have been the best year of his career, featuring a two round ruination of leading contender Michael Grant and a lopsided decision over his number one threat, David Tua. In April 2001, Lewis was shocked in the fifth by Hasim Rahman in one of the biggest upsets ever but rebounded in November with a classic one punch knockout to become only the fifth man ever to reclaim the true Heavyweight crown. His final two fights, a knockout of a faded Mike Tyson in the richest Heavyweight fight of the decade and a cut stoppage of Vitali Klitschko, were icing on the cake.
20) Winky Wright – Jr. Middleweight/Middleweight/Light Heavyweight
Record: 51-5-1, 25 KO
Record in the 00’s: 12-2-1, 1 KO
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Middleweight 2004-05, 1 Defense
Belts Held: IBF Jr. Middleweight 2001-04, 5 Defenses; Ring/IBF/WBC/WBA Jr. Middleweight 2004-05, 1 Defense
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Bronco McKart (UD12, DQ8); Keith Mullings (UD12); Shane Mosley (UD12, MD12); Felix Trinidad (UD12); Ike Quartey (UD12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat or Draw: Jermain Taylor (D12); Bernard Hopkins (L12); Paul Williams (L12)
Why He’s Here: Wright wasn’t always the most fortunate fighter when it came to receiving opportunities. He made the most of those he got. In 2004, he bested Shane Mosley twice to become the first fighter to hold the WBC, WBA and IBF belts simultaneously at Jr. Middleweight. In May 2005, he followed by winning every round against Felix Trinidad at Middleweight in a career best performance. Two fights later, in June 2006, Wright suffered a debatable draw against then-Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, denied a title in his second weight class. From there, Wright’s momentum waned. He negotiated himself out of a Taylor rematch and made an ill-fated move into a 170 lb. catchweight fight with Bernard Hopkins, a decided loss. In 2009 he returned from almost two years off and was drubbed by Paul Williams. With greater activity, and more opportunity earlier in the decade, Wright probably places higher on the list.
19) Jose Luis Castillo – Lightweight/Jr. Welterweight/Welterweight
Record: 60-9-1, 52 KO, 6 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 21-5-1, 15 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Lightweight 2004-05, 2 Defenses
Belts Held: WBC Lightweight 2000-02, 3 Defenses; Ring/WBC Lightweight 2004-05, 2 Defenses
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: 2005 – Ring/BWAA: TKO by 10 Diego Corrales
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Stevie Johnston (MD12); Cesar Bazan (TKO6); Joel Casamayor (SD12); Julio Diaz (TKO10); Diego Corrales (KO4)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat or Draw: Stevie Johnston (D12); Floyd Mayweather (L12, L12); Diego Corrales (TKO by 10); Ricky Hatton (KO by 4)
Why He’s Here: Castillo came out of nowhere in terms of public appeal in June 2000, scoring a major upset for the WBC Lightweight title over a Stevie Johnston who had crept into pound for pound type discussions. He was just getting started. Castillo followed with a draw against Johnston later in the year, added former titlist Bazan the following, and in some eyes split a pair of fights with Floyd Mayweather in 2002. Many felt he won the first though he officially lost both. He added to his ledger in 2004, winning the vacant Ring title and a claim as lineal champion with a decision over Juan Lazcano in June 2004 to begin his defining run. Over the next year plus, he would defeat Casamayor, Diaz, and split a memorable pair with Corrales. Failed professionalism by way of weight issues dogged him beginning in the second Corrales contest and continued as he failed to make weight for their ultimately cancelled rubber match in 2006. A move to 140 had minimal success and ended with a knockout loss to Hatton for the Jr. Welterweight title and then a failure to make weight in a title eliminator with Timothy Bradley in 2008. Castillo has posted a mark of 5-1 at Welterweight since. While he may have deserved the first Mayweather fight, there are equally compelling arguments that he was fortunate in the scoring of both Johnston fights and the Casamayor battle. Regardless of the rough ending to his decade, Castillo’s place as half of one of the greatest fights ever (Corrales I) ensures him a measure of immortality.
18) Rafael Marquez – Bantamweight/Jr. Featherweight
Record: 38-5, 34 KO, 4 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 19-3, 16 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Featherweight 2007
Belts Held: IBF Bantamweight 2003-07, 7 Defenses; Ring/WBC Jr. Featherweight 2007
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: 2007 – Ring/BWAA: TKO by 6 Israel Vasquez; 2008 – Ring/BWAA: L12 Israel Vasquez
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Mark Johnson (SD10, TKO8); Tim Austin (TKO8); Mauricio Pastrana (UD12, TKO8); Israel Vazquez (RTD7)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Israel Vazquez (TKO by 6, L12)
Why He’s Here: Rafael was not quite the technical master his big brother Juan Manuel has been but provided a power game which made him a fearsome force in two weight classes and a chin which got him into thrillers regularly. That he finished where he did, from where he started, is all the evidence one needs to explore why losses can be overrated. A third round loss to tough Genaro Garcia in November 2000 left Marquez with a mark of 21-3, all of his defeats by knockout. Eleven months later, with the assistance of a late surge, some questionable point deductions, and surprising scores, he survived to win a war with former Flyweight champ Mark Johnson. Marquez pushed aside any controversy with an eighth round rematch knockout in early 2002 and waited on his mandatory a full year, winning the IBF Bantamweight belt from Tim Austin. Marquez’s reign left much to be desired until the end with an aged Pastrana the only notable foe before the tough Mabuza emerged to push him. Marquez began a path to lasting remembrance in March 2007 as he rose in weight to capture the World title at 122 lbs. against Israel Vasquez, rising from the floor to force surrender in the first of three epic contests.
17) Masamori Tokuyama – Jr. Bantamweight
Record: 32-3-1, 8 KO, 1 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 12-1, 4 KO, 1 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Bantamweight 2000-04, 8 Defenses; 2005-07, 1 Defense
Belts Held: WBC Jr. Bantamweight 2000-04, 8 Defenses; 2005-07, 1 Defense
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: In-Joo Cho (UD12, TKO5); Gerry Penalosa (UD12, SD12); Katsushige Kawashima (UD12, UD12); Dimitri Kirilov (UD12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Katsushige Kawashima (TKO by 1)
Why He’s Here: In one of the most consistently excellent weight divisions of the decade, the Japan-based Tokuyama was the premiere talent for most of the first five years and remained near the top until his retirement in 2007. With a style which wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the Korean-born champion was tall for his weight and used incredibly fast hands, awkward angles and slick defense where power lacked. Both fights with Penalosa were close. The knockout loss to Kawashima was shocking and hurts his standing somewhat. While unification contests would have been nice, there are other positives in his favor. Cho was a talented, undefeated fighter before Tokuyama got to him and future titlist Kirilov had only one loss. The Kawashima loss came after an earlier, easy decision win and Tokuyama showed solid chops by outboxing him again to regain the title, shaking off the loss as if it hadn’t happened. His closing win over former U.S. Olympian Jose Navarro in 2006, after Navarro had been jobbed against Kawashima the year before, was a technical mastering and fitting close to his two reigns.
16) Ricky Hatton – Jr. Welterweight/Welterweight
Record: 45-2, 32 KO, 2 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 29-2, 20 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Welterweight 2005-09, 5 Defenses
Belts Held: Ring/IBF Jr. Welterweight 2005, 1 Defense; IBF/WBA Jr. Welterweight 2005-06; WBA Welterweight 2006; IBF Jr. Welterweight 2007
Fighter of the Year: 2005 – Ring/BWAA
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Freddie Pendleton (KO2); Vince Phillips (UD12); Kostya Tszyu (RTD11); Carlos Maussa (KO9); Luis Collazo (UD12); Juan Urango (UD12); Jose Luis Castillo (KO4); Paulie Malignaggi (TKO11)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Floyd Mayweather (TKO by 10); Manny Pacquiao (KO by 2)
Why He’s Here: The U.K.-based Hatton’s impact on the marketplace was perhaps more sizeable than his impact in the ring. A genuine star on both sides of the Atlantic, Hatton filled stadiums at home in Manchester and sold tickets and pay-per-view in the U.S. Through the decade, his only losses came to a pair of guaranteed Hall of Fame entrants and his biggest win came in ending the reign of another fighter who fits that bill. His 2005 encounter with Tszyu was nasty, Hatton pulling out roughhouse tricks and absorbing Tszyu’s right hand bombs to force the great champion to quit. He followed with an impressive reign as the lineal king at 140 lbs. included lopsided wins over current titlist Juan Urango, a dominant stoppage of the durable and skilled Malignaggi and a one-punch body shot stoppage of Castillo. He was fortunate to be at home for a defense against Juan Lazcano immediately after the Mayweather loss and he probably should have been moved towards the title sooner, but Hatton had an enviable decade by any standard.
15) Roy Jones Jr. – Light Heavyweight/Heavyweight
Record: 54-6, 40 KO, 3 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 14-6, 7 KO, 3 KOBY
Lineal Championships: None
Belts Held: WBC/WBA/IBF Light Heavyweight carried over from the 90s-03, 7 Defenses in the 00’s; Ring Light Heavyweight Light Heavyweight 2001-04, 5 Defenses; WBC Light Heavyweight 2003; WBA Heavyweight 2003
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Julio Gonzalez (UD12); Clinton Woods (TKO6); John Ruiz (UD12); Antonio Tarver (MD12); Felix Trinidad (UD12); Jeff Lacy (RTD10)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Antonio Tarver (TKO by 2, L12); Glen Johnson (KO by 9); Joe Calzaghe (L12); Danny Green (TKO by 1)
Why He’s Here: Jones was a tale of two fighters over the last ten years. Through the first four years of the 00’s, he remained arguably the game’s most talented fighter. Were this list based on old pound-for-pound ratings, then Jones would have a case for the top ten. Through 2003, he walked through Clinton Woods, moved up from Light Heavyweight to dethrone WBA Heavyweight titlist John Ruiz, and then returned to Light Heavyweight for the gutsiest performance of his career. In danger of defeat after ten rounds, Jones dug deep and came up with a rally in eleven and twelve to seal a decision win. It didn’t get better from there. He lost his next three, stopped by Tarver and Johnson in consecutive 2004 affairs and then was nearly stopped again in losing a lopsided rubber match with Tarver. Jones rebounded with a series of wins, the most notable coming against fellow future Hall of Famer Felix Trinidad in a surprisingly spry battle between men past their peaks. While he scored a knockdown in the first, Jones was beaten badly in challenging Calzaghe at Light Heavyweight and ended the 00’s with an ugly first round stoppage to Green. Weighing his accomplishments early against his failings late, Jones still manages a spot in the Top 25.
14) Vic Darchinyan – Flyweight/Jr. Bantamweight/Bantamweight
Record/Record in the 00’s: 36-2-1, 26 KO, 1 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Bantamweight 2008-Present
Belts Held: IBF Flyweight 2004-07, 6 Defenses; IBF Jr. Bantamweight 2008-Present, 1 Defense; IBF/WBC/WBA 2008-09; WBC/WBA 2009-Present
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Wandee Singwancha (TKO4, KO5); Irene Pacheco (TKO11); Victor Burgos (TKO12); Dimitri Kirilov (KO5); Cristian Mijares (KO9); Jorge Arce (RTD11)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Nonito Donaire (TKO by 5); Joseph Agbeko (L12)
Why He’s Here: The first man to unify three belts at Jr. Bantamweight, Darchinyan scored titles in two divisions and fell short in a third. Armenian born but based in Australia, Darchinyan was, pound for pound, among the best punchers of the decade. Before winning his first belt, Darchinyan toppled tough Flyweights like Alejandro Montiel and Wandee Singwancha, adding the IBF belt at 112 lbs. with an eleventh round knockout of the undefeated Irene Pacheco in December 2004. The fight was an oddity, staged outdoors and interrupted at one point by a lengthy fireworks show elsewhere at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Only one of Darchinyan’s successful title defenses went to the scorecards and it was a technical decision over Glen Donaire. His reign ended in a drubbing, knocked senseless in five by Glen’s brother Nonito in a bit of family revenge in July 2007. If Darchinyan’s decade had ended there, he wouldn’t be here. It did not. In 2008, he wasted the normally durable Kirilov for the IBF belt at Jr. Bantamweight and upset unified WBC/WBA titlist Cristian Mijares, dominating the Mexican technician from bell to bell before knocking him out in nine. In 2009, Darchinyan was 2-1, stopping longtime rival Jorge Arce and contender Tomas Rojas against an entertaining loss to Joseph Agbeko at Bantamweight. The southpaw showed off obvious flaws but it took special talents to exploit them, and he had the biggest accomplishment of the decade in the super talented Jr. Bantamweight field.
13) Ivan Calderon – Strawweight/Jr. Flyweight
Record/Record in the 00’s: 33-0-1, 6 KO
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Flyweight 2007-Present, 5 Defenses
Belts Held: WBO Strawweight 2003-07, 11 Defenses; Ring/WBO Jr. Flyweight 2007-Present, 5 Defenses
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated or Drawn: Eduardo Ray Marquez (TD9); Alex Sanchez (UD12); Edgar Cardenas (KO11); Roberto Leyva (UD12); Daniel Reyes (UD12); Issac Bustos (UD12); Hugo Cazares (SD 12, TD7); Nelson Dieppa (UD12); Rodel Mayol (Tech. Draw 6, TD7)
Why He’s Here: The 2000 Puerto Rican Olympian received votes in the lower end of the top ten but just missed the cut. He had, and still has, the talent to belong. In 34 fights, eighteen were for major titles at a mark of 17-0-1 across boxing’s two smallest weight classes. Blessed with elite hand and foot speed, Calderon earned almost every win the hard way, having to rely on skill and endurance knowing he wasn’t getting many early nights. His first performance versus Cazares in August 2008, in which he won the Jr. Flyweight crown, showed off both his best physical qualities and his inner character. Building a big lead early, Calderon weathered a late storm of power punching and a trip to the floor, responding with flurries of blows to seal his win at the end. Getting older, Calderon is beginning to show slip right now and may be nearing the end. Had he found more opposition like Cazares, or taken on more of his co-titlists at 105 and 108 lbs., it would have been hard to keep Calderon out of the top ten.
12) Israel Vazquez – Jr. Featherweight/Featherweight
Record: 44-4, 32 KO, 3 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 22-2, 15 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Featherweight 2005-07, 2 Defenses; 07-09, 1 Defense
Belts Held: IBF Jr. Featherweight 2004-05, 2 Defenses; WBC Jr. Featherweight 2005-07, 2 Defenses; 07-09, 1 Defense
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: 2007 – Ring/BWAA: TKO6 Rafael Marquez; 2008 – Ring/BWAA: SD12 Rafael Marquez
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Jorge Eliecer Julio (TKO10); Oscar Larios (TKO3); Ivan Hernandez (RTD4); Jhonny Gonzalez (TKO10); Rafael Marquez (TKO6, SD12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Oscar Larios (TKO by 12); Rafael Marquez (LRTD 7)
Why He’s Here: A Mexican warrior in the proudest tradition, it took Fight of the Year candidate offerings to defeat Vasquez in the 00’s and even that wasn’t always enough. Jhonny Gonzlaez had him on the deck twice in September 2006 and couldn’t finish him off. In their third contest, after being dropped in the first two fights himself, Rafael Marquez finally floored Vasquez but couldn’t keep him down. Oscar Larios pulled the trick in 2002, but only after an epic one shot loss in the 90s and with having to take a third round stop in the rubber match. Those were the kind of fights Vasquez found himself in repeatedly, and yet at the end he always seemed to smile. Just missing the top ten in voting, Vasquez will always be defined by a trilogy which did something rare. It got better with each battle. After quitting on his stool with a badly busted nose in the first fight, Vasquez won a second which ended up the 2007 Fight of the Year. In 2008, with the fight in the balance, he summoned a twelfth round assault which won the same honor for that year. He wasn’t the most skilled, he took an awful lot of shots, but Vasquez had a will to win over the last ten years few could match.
11) Shane Mosley – Welterweight/Jr. Middleweight
Record: 46-5, 39 KO, 1 No Contest
Record in the 00’s: 13-5, 8 KO, 1 No Contest
Lineal Championships: World Welterweight 2000-02, 3 Defenses; World Jr. Middleweight 2003-04
Belts Held: WBC Welterweight 2000-02, 3 Defenses; Ring/WBC/WBA Jr. Middleweight 2003-04; WBA Welterweight 2009-Present
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Oscar De La Hoya (SD12, UD12); Fernando Vargas (TKO10, TKO6); Luis Collazo (UD12); Ricardo Mayorga (KO12); Antonio Margarito (TKO9)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat or No Contest: Vernon Forrest (L12, L12); Raul Marquez (NC3); Winky Wright (L12, L12); Miguel Cotto (L12)
Why He’s Here: No one started and ended the 00’s with the flair of the almost always entertaining “Sugar” Shane. There were peaks and valleys in between but his first decision win over De La Hoya in 2000 and knockout of Margarito in 2009 can be sensory overwhelming. It wasn’t all sweet though. Mosley was tripped up by the BALCO scandal, eventually revealing he was using performance enhancing drugs during the second Oscar De La Hoya fight. Already a decision disputed in some quarters, the second De La Hoya fight became a more prominent controversy as the full story came out. To Mosley’s credit, he took on men no one else wanted in Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright; to his detriment he lost the Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight titles, respectively, in lopsided fashion to both. Immediate rematches in each case yielded closer fights but no wins in 2002 or 2004. His only other loss, to Miguel Cotto, was a competitive Fight of the Year contender in 2007. Along with these big names were other solid wins over durable contenders like Antonio Diaz and Luis Collazo, and still spry former champions in Fernando Vargas (the first time anyways) and Ricardo Mayorga. Mosley is a certain future Hall of Famer and, at 39, continues to attempt to extend his impression, readying now for a January 2010 Welterweight unification bout with undefeated 2004 Olympian Andre Berto.
With numbers 11-25 squared away, all that remains are results of voting for the top ten fighters of the decade.
Those ten will wait for just a few short days.
Ten years goes by fast. The first truly great fight of the decade, Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales I, doesn’t feel like that long ago.
Then again, neither do the primes of Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard.
The point is time passes quickly. Once a year, the world acknowledges that with remembrances of the last twelve months. Those aren’t too difficult. They work the short term memory, picking out those things which still felt vital in the time of their selection. A whole decade can be more difficult, forcing a harder look at the pockets of time, comparing moments of greatness to longer bodies of work.
Voting was solicited amongst the BoxingScene staff for top ten’s of the decade but some went above and beyond in their considerations and rated more. Many of those votes are included and reflected here as well; all fighters from 18 forward received editorial voting consideration.
This fighter review, a look back at the best of the 00’s, began previously by examining fighters who just missed the cut . Today, attention turns to the first fifteen fighters who did. Remarkably, in a supposed down decade, there is not a single fighter who doesn’t deserve to be at least voted on for the Hall of Fame and there are less than a handful that aren’t almost guaranteed enshrinement.
In other words, contrary to oft heard complaints, no matter how much time passes they still make plenty like them like they always have. On to number 25…
25) Veeraphol Sahaprom – Bantamweight
Record: 66-4-2, 47 KO, 3 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 42-3-2, 29 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: None
Belts Held: WBC Bantamweight carried over from the 90s-2005, 12 Defenses in the 00’s
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Toshiaki Nishioka (UD12, UD 12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat or Draw: Toshiaki Nishioka (D12, D12); Hozumi Hasegawa (L12, TKO by 9)
Why He’s Here: Still active today at age 41, the all-action Sahaprom is long past the days when he stood out as one of the very best of the vibrant Thai boxing market and a consistent force at or near the top of the Bantamweight division. Already into his second Bantamweight title reign as the decade began, Sahaprom was one of the most active fighters of the period while getting within two of Orlando Canizales’s consecutive Bantamweight defense record of sixteen. Some of his challengers were lackluster, but there was enough quality to merit a look. Hugo Dianzo and Adan Vargas were both tough outs. His four-fight rivalry with Nishioka has grown in quality with Nishioka’s recent rise in weight and title win at Jr. Featherweight. It took until April 2005 to move Sahaprom off his perch, Hasegawa taking the title in a close and competitive encounter. It was to be Sahaprom’s last real hurrah. Nearing middle age, he suffered a knockout to Hasegawa in the rematch the following year and was stopped in 2008 by Vusi Malinga. His lengthy title reign and endurance at 118 lbs. could have been enhanced with unification contests, and wins in such would have aided his standing.
24) Diego Corrales – Jr. Lightweight/Lightweight/Welterweight
Record: 40-5, 33 KO, 3 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 10-5, 9 KO, 3 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Lightweight 2005-06
Belts Held: IBF Jr. Lightweight carried over from the 90s-2000, 2 Defenses in the 00’s; WBO Jr. Lightweight 2004; WBO Lightweight 2004-05, 1 Defense; Ring/WBO/WBC Lightweight 2005-06
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: 2005 – Ring/BWAA: TKO10 Jose Luis Castillo
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Derrick Gainer (TKO3); Joel Casamayor (SD12); Acelino Freitas (TKO10); Jose Luis Castillo (TKO10)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Floyd Mayweather (TKO by 10); Joel Casamayor (TKO by 6, L12); Jose Luis Castillo (KO by 4); Joshua Clottey (L10)
Why He’s Here: As already revealed, the legacy of the late “Chico” Corrales was sealed in the decade’s best fight and, arguably, the greatest Lightweight championship contest ever. He was neck and neck with Arturo Gatti and Erik Morales as the most consistently thrilling fighter in the game at his peak. While a flawed fighter whose chin could never quite keep up with his heart or devastating punching power, Corrales had an impressive run of wins from 2004-05 which included the decision over Casamayor, making Freitas quit, and of course the knockout of Castillo. Weighed against him are the following factors: he didn’t win a round against Mayweather, lost two of three to Casamayor, and arguably cheated to defeat Castillo (only to be cheated in the rematch when Castillo appeared to make no effort to make weight for the contest). There was also important time lost in his physical prime due to a prison stay for spousal abuse.
23) Joel Casamayor – Jr. Lightweight/Lightweight
Record: 37-4-1, 22 KO, 1 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 17-4, 10 KO, 1 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Lightweight 2006-08, 2 Defenses
Belts Held: WBA Jr. Lightweight 2000-02, 4 Defenses; Ring/WBC Lightweight 2006-07; Ring/interim WBC 2007; Ring/interim WBO 2008; Ring 2008
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Jong Kwan Baek (TKO5); Roberto Garcia (TKO9); Nate Campbell (UD10); Diego Corrales (TKO6, SD12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Acelino Freitas (L12); Diego Corrales (L12); Jose Luis Castillo (L12); Juan Manuel Marquez (TKO by 11)
Why He’s Here: A Cuban defector to the free world, the southpaw Casamayor enriched himself and the sport with technical precision, nasty temperament, and no fear of the occasional brawl. Beginning the decade with a cut stoppage of Baek for the WBA title at 130 lbs., Casamayor fought most of the best at Jr. Lightweight and Lightweight and won more than he lost. To his credit, the losses to Freitas, Corrales, and Castillo all came in memorable affairs and all could have gone the other way. So too could some of his wins as Nate Campbell made a case for victory and Jose Armando Santa Cruz not only made a case but flat out defeated Casamayor for the Lightweight title only to fall victim to one the worst decisions of the last ten years. His lone stoppage loss came to a great fighter, in a largely unseen but excellent battle with Marquez while already 37 years old. His being the ultimate victor over Corrales in their three fight rivalry gives him the edge here over his rival.
22) Kostya Tszyu – Jr. Welterweight
Record: 31-2, 25 KO, 2 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 8-1, 6 KO
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Welterweight 2001-05, 3 Defenses
Belts Held: WBC Jr. Welterweight carried over from the 90s-2001, 3 Defenses in the 00’s; WBC/WBA 2001, 2 Defenses; Ring/WBC/WBA/IBF 2001-05, 3 Defenses
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Julio Cesar Chavez (TKO6); Sharmba Mitchell (RTD7, TKO3); Zab Judah (TKO2); Jesse James Leija (TKO6)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Ricky Hatton (RTD11)
Why He’s Here: While only active for the first six years of the 00’s, this was the decade where Tszyu defined his career and place among the great Jr. Welterweights. Without a rash of injuries which stifled his career between the unification of the 140 lb. crown and the loss of it to Hatton in 2005, Tszyu likely places even higher. In 2001, an unofficial tournament at Jr. Welterweight, fueled by Showtime, was begun with Tszyu’s awkward first win over Mitchell. Anticipating a showdown with Judah, Tszyu made the younger man wait while he handled Oktay Urkal, enduring barbs and taunts in the build to a showdown. When they finally got in the ring in November 2001, the then-undefeated Judah had a blazing first two minutes but, following a short hook, was in full retreat mode into the second round before finally being leveled with a laser right hand. Tszyu would win only three more fights as he battled training ailments, the last of them a career best destruction of Mitchell in November 2004, before surrendering on his stool to Hatton in his final fight. Tszyu is expected to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) later this year, his first year of eligibility.
21) Lennox Lewis – Heavyweight
Record: 41-2-1, 32 KO
Record in the 00’s: 6-1, 6 KO
Lineal Championships: World Heavyweight 1998-01, 3 defenses in 2000; 01-03, 2 Defenses
Belts Held: IBF/WBC (lost and regained)
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Frans Botha (TKO2); Hasim Rahman (KO4); Mike Tyson (KO8); Vitali Klitschko (TKO6)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Hasim Rahman (KO by 5)
Why He’s Here: Lewis has been gone so long that he’s already a member of the IBHOF. Largely a product of the 1990s, when that decade ended Lewis was the newly crowned undisputed Heavyweight king after capturing the lineal crown in 1998. However, it was his performances in the first four years of the 00’s that firmly pushed him into discussions with the immortal big men. 2000 may have been the best year of his career, featuring a two round ruination of leading contender Michael Grant and a lopsided decision over his number one threat, David Tua. In April 2001, Lewis was shocked in the fifth by Hasim Rahman in one of the biggest upsets ever but rebounded in November with a classic one punch knockout to become only the fifth man ever to reclaim the true Heavyweight crown. His final two fights, a knockout of a faded Mike Tyson in the richest Heavyweight fight of the decade and a cut stoppage of Vitali Klitschko, were icing on the cake.
20) Winky Wright – Jr. Middleweight/Middleweight/Light Heavyweight
Record: 51-5-1, 25 KO
Record in the 00’s: 12-2-1, 1 KO
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Middleweight 2004-05, 1 Defense
Belts Held: IBF Jr. Middleweight 2001-04, 5 Defenses; Ring/IBF/WBC/WBA Jr. Middleweight 2004-05, 1 Defense
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Bronco McKart (UD12, DQ8); Keith Mullings (UD12); Shane Mosley (UD12, MD12); Felix Trinidad (UD12); Ike Quartey (UD12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat or Draw: Jermain Taylor (D12); Bernard Hopkins (L12); Paul Williams (L12)
Why He’s Here: Wright wasn’t always the most fortunate fighter when it came to receiving opportunities. He made the most of those he got. In 2004, he bested Shane Mosley twice to become the first fighter to hold the WBC, WBA and IBF belts simultaneously at Jr. Middleweight. In May 2005, he followed by winning every round against Felix Trinidad at Middleweight in a career best performance. Two fights later, in June 2006, Wright suffered a debatable draw against then-Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, denied a title in his second weight class. From there, Wright’s momentum waned. He negotiated himself out of a Taylor rematch and made an ill-fated move into a 170 lb. catchweight fight with Bernard Hopkins, a decided loss. In 2009 he returned from almost two years off and was drubbed by Paul Williams. With greater activity, and more opportunity earlier in the decade, Wright probably places higher on the list.
19) Jose Luis Castillo – Lightweight/Jr. Welterweight/Welterweight
Record: 60-9-1, 52 KO, 6 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 21-5-1, 15 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Lightweight 2004-05, 2 Defenses
Belts Held: WBC Lightweight 2000-02, 3 Defenses; Ring/WBC Lightweight 2004-05, 2 Defenses
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: 2005 – Ring/BWAA: TKO by 10 Diego Corrales
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Stevie Johnston (MD12); Cesar Bazan (TKO6); Joel Casamayor (SD12); Julio Diaz (TKO10); Diego Corrales (KO4)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat or Draw: Stevie Johnston (D12); Floyd Mayweather (L12, L12); Diego Corrales (TKO by 10); Ricky Hatton (KO by 4)
Why He’s Here: Castillo came out of nowhere in terms of public appeal in June 2000, scoring a major upset for the WBC Lightweight title over a Stevie Johnston who had crept into pound for pound type discussions. He was just getting started. Castillo followed with a draw against Johnston later in the year, added former titlist Bazan the following, and in some eyes split a pair of fights with Floyd Mayweather in 2002. Many felt he won the first though he officially lost both. He added to his ledger in 2004, winning the vacant Ring title and a claim as lineal champion with a decision over Juan Lazcano in June 2004 to begin his defining run. Over the next year plus, he would defeat Casamayor, Diaz, and split a memorable pair with Corrales. Failed professionalism by way of weight issues dogged him beginning in the second Corrales contest and continued as he failed to make weight for their ultimately cancelled rubber match in 2006. A move to 140 had minimal success and ended with a knockout loss to Hatton for the Jr. Welterweight title and then a failure to make weight in a title eliminator with Timothy Bradley in 2008. Castillo has posted a mark of 5-1 at Welterweight since. While he may have deserved the first Mayweather fight, there are equally compelling arguments that he was fortunate in the scoring of both Johnston fights and the Casamayor battle. Regardless of the rough ending to his decade, Castillo’s place as half of one of the greatest fights ever (Corrales I) ensures him a measure of immortality.
18) Rafael Marquez – Bantamweight/Jr. Featherweight
Record: 38-5, 34 KO, 4 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 19-3, 16 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Featherweight 2007
Belts Held: IBF Bantamweight 2003-07, 7 Defenses; Ring/WBC Jr. Featherweight 2007
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: 2007 – Ring/BWAA: TKO by 6 Israel Vasquez; 2008 – Ring/BWAA: L12 Israel Vasquez
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Mark Johnson (SD10, TKO8); Tim Austin (TKO8); Mauricio Pastrana (UD12, TKO8); Israel Vazquez (RTD7)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Israel Vazquez (TKO by 6, L12)
Why He’s Here: Rafael was not quite the technical master his big brother Juan Manuel has been but provided a power game which made him a fearsome force in two weight classes and a chin which got him into thrillers regularly. That he finished where he did, from where he started, is all the evidence one needs to explore why losses can be overrated. A third round loss to tough Genaro Garcia in November 2000 left Marquez with a mark of 21-3, all of his defeats by knockout. Eleven months later, with the assistance of a late surge, some questionable point deductions, and surprising scores, he survived to win a war with former Flyweight champ Mark Johnson. Marquez pushed aside any controversy with an eighth round rematch knockout in early 2002 and waited on his mandatory a full year, winning the IBF Bantamweight belt from Tim Austin. Marquez’s reign left much to be desired until the end with an aged Pastrana the only notable foe before the tough Mabuza emerged to push him. Marquez began a path to lasting remembrance in March 2007 as he rose in weight to capture the World title at 122 lbs. against Israel Vasquez, rising from the floor to force surrender in the first of three epic contests.
17) Masamori Tokuyama – Jr. Bantamweight
Record: 32-3-1, 8 KO, 1 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 12-1, 4 KO, 1 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Bantamweight 2000-04, 8 Defenses; 2005-07, 1 Defense
Belts Held: WBC Jr. Bantamweight 2000-04, 8 Defenses; 2005-07, 1 Defense
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: In-Joo Cho (UD12, TKO5); Gerry Penalosa (UD12, SD12); Katsushige Kawashima (UD12, UD12); Dimitri Kirilov (UD12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Katsushige Kawashima (TKO by 1)
Why He’s Here: In one of the most consistently excellent weight divisions of the decade, the Japan-based Tokuyama was the premiere talent for most of the first five years and remained near the top until his retirement in 2007. With a style which wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the Korean-born champion was tall for his weight and used incredibly fast hands, awkward angles and slick defense where power lacked. Both fights with Penalosa were close. The knockout loss to Kawashima was shocking and hurts his standing somewhat. While unification contests would have been nice, there are other positives in his favor. Cho was a talented, undefeated fighter before Tokuyama got to him and future titlist Kirilov had only one loss. The Kawashima loss came after an earlier, easy decision win and Tokuyama showed solid chops by outboxing him again to regain the title, shaking off the loss as if it hadn’t happened. His closing win over former U.S. Olympian Jose Navarro in 2006, after Navarro had been jobbed against Kawashima the year before, was a technical mastering and fitting close to his two reigns.
16) Ricky Hatton – Jr. Welterweight/Welterweight
Record: 45-2, 32 KO, 2 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 29-2, 20 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Welterweight 2005-09, 5 Defenses
Belts Held: Ring/IBF Jr. Welterweight 2005, 1 Defense; IBF/WBA Jr. Welterweight 2005-06; WBA Welterweight 2006; IBF Jr. Welterweight 2007
Fighter of the Year: 2005 – Ring/BWAA
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Freddie Pendleton (KO2); Vince Phillips (UD12); Kostya Tszyu (RTD11); Carlos Maussa (KO9); Luis Collazo (UD12); Juan Urango (UD12); Jose Luis Castillo (KO4); Paulie Malignaggi (TKO11)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Floyd Mayweather (TKO by 10); Manny Pacquiao (KO by 2)
Why He’s Here: The U.K.-based Hatton’s impact on the marketplace was perhaps more sizeable than his impact in the ring. A genuine star on both sides of the Atlantic, Hatton filled stadiums at home in Manchester and sold tickets and pay-per-view in the U.S. Through the decade, his only losses came to a pair of guaranteed Hall of Fame entrants and his biggest win came in ending the reign of another fighter who fits that bill. His 2005 encounter with Tszyu was nasty, Hatton pulling out roughhouse tricks and absorbing Tszyu’s right hand bombs to force the great champion to quit. He followed with an impressive reign as the lineal king at 140 lbs. included lopsided wins over current titlist Juan Urango, a dominant stoppage of the durable and skilled Malignaggi and a one-punch body shot stoppage of Castillo. He was fortunate to be at home for a defense against Juan Lazcano immediately after the Mayweather loss and he probably should have been moved towards the title sooner, but Hatton had an enviable decade by any standard.
15) Roy Jones Jr. – Light Heavyweight/Heavyweight
Record: 54-6, 40 KO, 3 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 14-6, 7 KO, 3 KOBY
Lineal Championships: None
Belts Held: WBC/WBA/IBF Light Heavyweight carried over from the 90s-03, 7 Defenses in the 00’s; Ring Light Heavyweight Light Heavyweight 2001-04, 5 Defenses; WBC Light Heavyweight 2003; WBA Heavyweight 2003
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Julio Gonzalez (UD12); Clinton Woods (TKO6); John Ruiz (UD12); Antonio Tarver (MD12); Felix Trinidad (UD12); Jeff Lacy (RTD10)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Antonio Tarver (TKO by 2, L12); Glen Johnson (KO by 9); Joe Calzaghe (L12); Danny Green (TKO by 1)
Why He’s Here: Jones was a tale of two fighters over the last ten years. Through the first four years of the 00’s, he remained arguably the game’s most talented fighter. Were this list based on old pound-for-pound ratings, then Jones would have a case for the top ten. Through 2003, he walked through Clinton Woods, moved up from Light Heavyweight to dethrone WBA Heavyweight titlist John Ruiz, and then returned to Light Heavyweight for the gutsiest performance of his career. In danger of defeat after ten rounds, Jones dug deep and came up with a rally in eleven and twelve to seal a decision win. It didn’t get better from there. He lost his next three, stopped by Tarver and Johnson in consecutive 2004 affairs and then was nearly stopped again in losing a lopsided rubber match with Tarver. Jones rebounded with a series of wins, the most notable coming against fellow future Hall of Famer Felix Trinidad in a surprisingly spry battle between men past their peaks. While he scored a knockdown in the first, Jones was beaten badly in challenging Calzaghe at Light Heavyweight and ended the 00’s with an ugly first round stoppage to Green. Weighing his accomplishments early against his failings late, Jones still manages a spot in the Top 25.
14) Vic Darchinyan – Flyweight/Jr. Bantamweight/Bantamweight
Record/Record in the 00’s: 36-2-1, 26 KO, 1 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Bantamweight 2008-Present
Belts Held: IBF Flyweight 2004-07, 6 Defenses; IBF Jr. Bantamweight 2008-Present, 1 Defense; IBF/WBC/WBA 2008-09; WBC/WBA 2009-Present
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Wandee Singwancha (TKO4, KO5); Irene Pacheco (TKO11); Victor Burgos (TKO12); Dimitri Kirilov (KO5); Cristian Mijares (KO9); Jorge Arce (RTD11)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Nonito Donaire (TKO by 5); Joseph Agbeko (L12)
Why He’s Here: The first man to unify three belts at Jr. Bantamweight, Darchinyan scored titles in two divisions and fell short in a third. Armenian born but based in Australia, Darchinyan was, pound for pound, among the best punchers of the decade. Before winning his first belt, Darchinyan toppled tough Flyweights like Alejandro Montiel and Wandee Singwancha, adding the IBF belt at 112 lbs. with an eleventh round knockout of the undefeated Irene Pacheco in December 2004. The fight was an oddity, staged outdoors and interrupted at one point by a lengthy fireworks show elsewhere at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Only one of Darchinyan’s successful title defenses went to the scorecards and it was a technical decision over Glen Donaire. His reign ended in a drubbing, knocked senseless in five by Glen’s brother Nonito in a bit of family revenge in July 2007. If Darchinyan’s decade had ended there, he wouldn’t be here. It did not. In 2008, he wasted the normally durable Kirilov for the IBF belt at Jr. Bantamweight and upset unified WBC/WBA titlist Cristian Mijares, dominating the Mexican technician from bell to bell before knocking him out in nine. In 2009, Darchinyan was 2-1, stopping longtime rival Jorge Arce and contender Tomas Rojas against an entertaining loss to Joseph Agbeko at Bantamweight. The southpaw showed off obvious flaws but it took special talents to exploit them, and he had the biggest accomplishment of the decade in the super talented Jr. Bantamweight field.
13) Ivan Calderon – Strawweight/Jr. Flyweight
Record/Record in the 00’s: 33-0-1, 6 KO
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Flyweight 2007-Present, 5 Defenses
Belts Held: WBO Strawweight 2003-07, 11 Defenses; Ring/WBO Jr. Flyweight 2007-Present, 5 Defenses
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated or Drawn: Eduardo Ray Marquez (TD9); Alex Sanchez (UD12); Edgar Cardenas (KO11); Roberto Leyva (UD12); Daniel Reyes (UD12); Issac Bustos (UD12); Hugo Cazares (SD 12, TD7); Nelson Dieppa (UD12); Rodel Mayol (Tech. Draw 6, TD7)
Why He’s Here: The 2000 Puerto Rican Olympian received votes in the lower end of the top ten but just missed the cut. He had, and still has, the talent to belong. In 34 fights, eighteen were for major titles at a mark of 17-0-1 across boxing’s two smallest weight classes. Blessed with elite hand and foot speed, Calderon earned almost every win the hard way, having to rely on skill and endurance knowing he wasn’t getting many early nights. His first performance versus Cazares in August 2008, in which he won the Jr. Flyweight crown, showed off both his best physical qualities and his inner character. Building a big lead early, Calderon weathered a late storm of power punching and a trip to the floor, responding with flurries of blows to seal his win at the end. Getting older, Calderon is beginning to show slip right now and may be nearing the end. Had he found more opposition like Cazares, or taken on more of his co-titlists at 105 and 108 lbs., it would have been hard to keep Calderon out of the top ten.
12) Israel Vazquez – Jr. Featherweight/Featherweight
Record: 44-4, 32 KO, 3 KOBY
Record in the 00’s: 22-2, 15 KO, 2 KOBY
Lineal Championships: World Jr. Featherweight 2005-07, 2 Defenses; 07-09, 1 Defense
Belts Held: IBF Jr. Featherweight 2004-05, 2 Defenses; WBC Jr. Featherweight 2005-07, 2 Defenses; 07-09, 1 Defense
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: 2007 – Ring/BWAA: TKO6 Rafael Marquez; 2008 – Ring/BWAA: SD12 Rafael Marquez
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Jorge Eliecer Julio (TKO10); Oscar Larios (TKO3); Ivan Hernandez (RTD4); Jhonny Gonzalez (TKO10); Rafael Marquez (TKO6, SD12)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat: Oscar Larios (TKO by 12); Rafael Marquez (LRTD 7)
Why He’s Here: A Mexican warrior in the proudest tradition, it took Fight of the Year candidate offerings to defeat Vasquez in the 00’s and even that wasn’t always enough. Jhonny Gonzlaez had him on the deck twice in September 2006 and couldn’t finish him off. In their third contest, after being dropped in the first two fights himself, Rafael Marquez finally floored Vasquez but couldn’t keep him down. Oscar Larios pulled the trick in 2002, but only after an epic one shot loss in the 90s and with having to take a third round stop in the rubber match. Those were the kind of fights Vasquez found himself in repeatedly, and yet at the end he always seemed to smile. Just missing the top ten in voting, Vasquez will always be defined by a trilogy which did something rare. It got better with each battle. After quitting on his stool with a badly busted nose in the first fight, Vasquez won a second which ended up the 2007 Fight of the Year. In 2008, with the fight in the balance, he summoned a twelfth round assault which won the same honor for that year. He wasn’t the most skilled, he took an awful lot of shots, but Vasquez had a will to win over the last ten years few could match.
11) Shane Mosley – Welterweight/Jr. Middleweight
Record: 46-5, 39 KO, 1 No Contest
Record in the 00’s: 13-5, 8 KO, 1 No Contest
Lineal Championships: World Welterweight 2000-02, 3 Defenses; World Jr. Middleweight 2003-04
Belts Held: WBC Welterweight 2000-02, 3 Defenses; Ring/WBC/WBA Jr. Middleweight 2003-04; WBA Welterweight 2009-Present
Fighter of the Year: None
Fight of the Year: None
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Defeated: Oscar De La Hoya (SD12, UD12); Fernando Vargas (TKO10, TKO6); Luis Collazo (UD12); Ricardo Mayorga (KO12); Antonio Margarito (TKO9)
Current/Former Titlists/Champions Faced in Defeat or No Contest: Vernon Forrest (L12, L12); Raul Marquez (NC3); Winky Wright (L12, L12); Miguel Cotto (L12)
Why He’s Here: No one started and ended the 00’s with the flair of the almost always entertaining “Sugar” Shane. There were peaks and valleys in between but his first decision win over De La Hoya in 2000 and knockout of Margarito in 2009 can be sensory overwhelming. It wasn’t all sweet though. Mosley was tripped up by the BALCO scandal, eventually revealing he was using performance enhancing drugs during the second Oscar De La Hoya fight. Already a decision disputed in some quarters, the second De La Hoya fight became a more prominent controversy as the full story came out. To Mosley’s credit, he took on men no one else wanted in Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright; to his detriment he lost the Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight titles, respectively, in lopsided fashion to both. Immediate rematches in each case yielded closer fights but no wins in 2002 or 2004. His only other loss, to Miguel Cotto, was a competitive Fight of the Year contender in 2007. Along with these big names were other solid wins over durable contenders like Antonio Diaz and Luis Collazo, and still spry former champions in Fernando Vargas (the first time anyways) and Ricardo Mayorga. Mosley is a certain future Hall of Famer and, at 39, continues to attempt to extend his impression, readying now for a January 2010 Welterweight unification bout with undefeated 2004 Olympian Andre Berto.
With numbers 11-25 squared away, all that remains are results of voting for the top ten fighters of the decade.
Those ten will wait for just a few short days.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Razones para estar agradecido
viernes, 27 de noviembre de 2009
Iván Calderón / Para Primera Hora
Todo atleta que desea ser exitoso en cualquier nivel tiene que sacrificar algunas cosas para así alcanzar las metas que se traza.
El boxeo no es distinto.
No solamente significa largas horas entrenando en un gimnasio o corriendo en una pista, sino que, además, inconscientemente puse a un lado pasar tiempo con mi familia, particularmente durante los días festivos que se avecinan.
Pero, no puedo negar que al final del camino he sido bendecido por unas recompensas que me llenan de orgullo y satisfacción.
Al principio de mi carrera, no pude compartir con mis hijos como me hubiese gustado durante los días de Acción de Gracias. Lo más difícil era explicarles las razones por el cual no podía sentarme con ellos a comer de una suculenta cena que con tanto cariño habían preparado. Pero, con el tiempo entendieron. Por ello, ahora que no peleo con la misma frecuencia que hace unos años, puedo darme el lujo de ir a donde deseo para festejar con gusto.
Este año, no quise dejar pasar la ocasión para estar con mi mamá y viajé a la ciudad de Boston para compartir con algunos familiares que normalmente no tengo la oportunidad de ver. Fue la primera vez en muchos años que estuvimos juntos y eso lo hizo más especial todavía.
El boxeo me ha dado muchas cosas. Aparte de los ingresos económicos para brindar una mejor calidad de vida a mis hijos, me ha abierto las puertas a un mundo que quizás no hubiese visto bajo otras circunstancias.
Cada vez que he sido invitado para compartir con aquellas personas cuyas familias los han dejado en el olvido, no lo pienso dos veces. Sé que una breve conversación, una sonrisa o un abrazo puede alegrar su vida aunque sea por un día. Y no hay mayor satisfacción que ésa.
He vivido muchas experiencias y sé de la importancia de estar con las personas que necesitan cariño. Para ellos, es lo más grande que podamos darle de lo poco que uno tiene.
Puerto Rico está pasando por una época difícil, pero tenemos que entender que en muchas lugares alrededor del mundo la situación es similar. Lo mejor que tenemos es el deseo de levantarnos para encaminarnos nuevamente.
Todo está en lo que podemos hacer para salir del atolladero y no hay duda de que lo podemos lograr.
Muchos sabían que tenía el talento para ser un boxeador sobresaliente, pero también estaban los que no creyeron que podía ser un campeón mundial en dos categorías, a la vez que mantenía mi invicto.
Pero, con mi perseverancia y dedicación, pude hacer lo que pensaron imposible y ésa es la mentalidad que necesitamos si en realidad queremos que Puerto Rico sea un mejor lugar para nuestros hijos.
Iván Calderón / Para Primera Hora
Todo atleta que desea ser exitoso en cualquier nivel tiene que sacrificar algunas cosas para así alcanzar las metas que se traza.
El boxeo no es distinto.
No solamente significa largas horas entrenando en un gimnasio o corriendo en una pista, sino que, además, inconscientemente puse a un lado pasar tiempo con mi familia, particularmente durante los días festivos que se avecinan.
Pero, no puedo negar que al final del camino he sido bendecido por unas recompensas que me llenan de orgullo y satisfacción.
Al principio de mi carrera, no pude compartir con mis hijos como me hubiese gustado durante los días de Acción de Gracias. Lo más difícil era explicarles las razones por el cual no podía sentarme con ellos a comer de una suculenta cena que con tanto cariño habían preparado. Pero, con el tiempo entendieron. Por ello, ahora que no peleo con la misma frecuencia que hace unos años, puedo darme el lujo de ir a donde deseo para festejar con gusto.
Este año, no quise dejar pasar la ocasión para estar con mi mamá y viajé a la ciudad de Boston para compartir con algunos familiares que normalmente no tengo la oportunidad de ver. Fue la primera vez en muchos años que estuvimos juntos y eso lo hizo más especial todavía.
El boxeo me ha dado muchas cosas. Aparte de los ingresos económicos para brindar una mejor calidad de vida a mis hijos, me ha abierto las puertas a un mundo que quizás no hubiese visto bajo otras circunstancias.
Cada vez que he sido invitado para compartir con aquellas personas cuyas familias los han dejado en el olvido, no lo pienso dos veces. Sé que una breve conversación, una sonrisa o un abrazo puede alegrar su vida aunque sea por un día. Y no hay mayor satisfacción que ésa.
He vivido muchas experiencias y sé de la importancia de estar con las personas que necesitan cariño. Para ellos, es lo más grande que podamos darle de lo poco que uno tiene.
Puerto Rico está pasando por una época difícil, pero tenemos que entender que en muchas lugares alrededor del mundo la situación es similar. Lo mejor que tenemos es el deseo de levantarnos para encaminarnos nuevamente.
Todo está en lo que podemos hacer para salir del atolladero y no hay duda de que lo podemos lograr.
Muchos sabían que tenía el talento para ser un boxeador sobresaliente, pero también estaban los que no creyeron que podía ser un campeón mundial en dos categorías, a la vez que mantenía mi invicto.
Pero, con mi perseverancia y dedicación, pude hacer lo que pensaron imposible y ésa es la mentalidad que necesitamos si en realidad queremos que Puerto Rico sea un mejor lugar para nuestros hijos.
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