This was a big month for boxing.
Big in money. Big in viewers. Big in creating an even more prosperous future. One week apart, Floyd Mayweather’s return versus Juan Manuel Marquez did over one million buys on pay television and, reportedly, was followed by an HBO high live rating for the year headlined by the replay of the bout and Vitali Klitschko-Chris Arreola.
While neither fight was a classic in the ring, the crowds were near to full, loud, and star studded. Don’t discount the last of these. At its peaks, boxing has always been about mixing the masses with the higher classes. Look all the way back to the days of Jack Johnson-Jim Jeffries and you’ll see decked out luminaries up front, denim in the back.
Boxing is at its best when it feels special, when an event is at hand. Kobe Bryant shows up for events, makes his face seen at the place to be.
Evidently, boxing can still be the place to be.
And yet, it was not the stars who get the highest marks for the month. Mayweather and Klitschko were big favorites. They performed like it. Other men, well off Broadway, were more impressive in the ring as all will see in the September Month in Review
Fighter of the Month: Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym
One never knows with Thai fighters. Great records can often be amassed without facing the stiffest competition and keeping close to home is the norm. That wasn’t the case even before September 26 for Kratingdaenggym (39-1, 28 KO). He’d been built with his share of stiffs. Who isn’t? But there was also the traditional build of a champion. Wins over veteran former champions like Leo Gamez and Somsak Sithchatchawal, a battle of unbeatens victory when he and future titlist Ricardo Cordoba squared off in 2005, even an oddly scored title defeat against Wladimir Sidorenko in Germany.
It was the sort of experience which prepared him for what, to now, has been the 28 year old’s shining moment. Traveling to the hostile turf of WBA ‘regular’ Jr. Featherweight titlist Bernard Dunne (28-2, 15 KO) in Dublin, Ireland, Kratingdaenggym was the picture of cool from opening bell to third and final knockdown in round three. Dunne had bested Cordoba in one of the best fights of the year in March. Kratingdaenggym never let him get into this one.
This is a fighter the whole world needs to see more of.
In a weight class with Juan Manuel Lopez and Celestino Caballero at the top, and Guillermo Rigondeaux, its high praise indeed. It’s enough to be the Fighter of the month.
Fight of the Month: Marvin Sonsona-Jose Lopez
Manny Pacquiao won’t be around forever. Those who need their fix of Filipino action stars might have a new matinee idol in the making. Only 14 fights into his career, Sonsona has already become must see viewing for any serious fight fan.
Originally covered by Jake Donovan at http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=22014
Depending upon whom you asked, Marvin Sonsona was either too fresh and talented for the elder Jose “Carita” Lopez to handle, or he was too young and inexperienced to handle the pressure of a wily veteran.
Twelve rounds later, truth would be found in both statements, though it would also serve as a period in which Sonsona would grow in front of our very eyes.
Banging early and boxing late, the southpaw Filipino found just the right formula to outlast the Puerto Rican veteran. A fourth-round knockdown and two points docked from Lopez’ card for low blows proved to be more than enough for the 19-year old Sonsona to remain unbeaten and pick up his first major title in scoring a unanimous decision Friday night at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada.
Scores were 114-111, 115-110 and 116-109.
As expected, both punchers tried to impose their will on one another right from the opening bell. Lopez claimed the role of aggressor, though Sonsona exuded patience far beyond his 19 years of age, sharp shooting from the outside. Lopez remained unnerved, as he continued to move forward in every effort to make it an inside fight.
Sonsona was a little brave for his own good early in the second. He decided to try to take the fight to the Puerto Rican titlist, only for Lopez to effectively counter and force Sonsona to step back and rethink his game plan.
It worked out to his advantage, finding his range and eventually cracking the iron chin of Lopez towards the end of the round. A looping right hook rocked Lopez, with the ensuing volley forcing a rate trip to the canvas, though the instance apparently went unnoticed by the referee, who waved it off as a slip.
Knockdown or not, Lopez was still loopy at rounds end. The minute rest hardly helped him regain his legs. Sonsona sensed vulnerable prey and went into full attack mode. Boxing was strictly a rumor, as the Filipino loaded up on every punch. Overhand lefts had Lopez in massive trouble, repeatedly clinching in his greatest efforts to remain on his feet.
An uppercut late in the round momentarily kept the heat off of him, with Sonsona coasting down the stretch as he sensed a knockout wasn’t immediately on tap. He ran the risk of allowing Lopez back into the fight, but disproved that theory in violent fashion in the fourth.
Left hands continued to reign down on Lopez, who was rocked midway through the round after getting nailed with a left uppercut, overhand left combo. A left hook later in the round put the Puerto Rican on his back for the bout’s lone official knockdown. Lopez spent the rest of the round trying desperately to keep Sonsona at bay, which proved futile save for a brief rally in the final ten seconds.
Digging a deep hole for himself, Lopez tried in vain to turn things around in the fifth. Sonsona began the round fighting in reverse, measuring up Lopez, who continued to charge forward in hopes of imposing his will on the challenger nearly 20 years his junior. Toe-to-toe action worked to Lopez’ advantage, as he was able to land to the body, momentarily slowing down Sonsona’s otherwise relentless attack.
The end of the fifth round marked the deepest Sonsona has ever been extended in a career just two years and 14 fights young. Inexperience was hardly a factor in the sixth, however, as Sonsona looked refreshed after all but giving away the fifth.
A low blow momentarily stopped him in his tracks, as an errant Lopez shot landed on Sonsona’s thigh. The infraction drew a warning from the referee, as did a body shot moments later that was border line. Sonsona shook off both shots and stuck to his script, landing straight lefts upstairs and offering lateral movement to avoid an attempted late Lopez surge.
Though Sonsona fought a nearly flawless fight in the first half, the final six rounds proved to be a different tale.
Common logic going in was that the longer the fight lasted, the better chance Lopez had of retaining his title. Lopez put that theory to the test in the seventh, closing the gap considerably as Sonsona suddenly lacked the fire power to keep the tide in his favor. Instead, he wisely switched up and controlled the action from the outside in a round that would mathematically seal the deal.
Lopez wasn’t about to concede defeat, as he began to target Sonsona’s body in the eighth and ninth. A midsection feast turned into a gorge, however; Lopez would once again stray too low for the referee’s liking, ultimately losing two points for low blows, adding insult to injury.
Good two way action surfaced in the tenth, though anything in the way of a power game favored Lopez. It was enough to steal some late rounds, but never enough to close the show, as Sonsona proved wise beyond his youth and perceived inexperience. Desperate for a dramatic rally, Lopez applied the pressure in the 12th and final round, but Sonsona was able to time him coming in, landing shots before the soon to be ex-champion had a chance to get off his punches. It was a round in which Sonsona could’ve coasted; he instead chose to close the show.
It proved to be window dressing once the scores were announced, winning 6, 7 and 8 rounds on the three scorecards. Factor in the early knockdown and two points for low blows deducted from Lopez’ tally, and a close fight results in an even wider margin of victory for the winner and new champion Sonsona, who improves to 14-0 (12KO). Lopez falls to 39-8-2 (32KO), losing for the first time in eight years. A 16-fight unbeaten streak comes to an end, as does a short lived reign as a super-flyweight titlist.
Critical Results
Using a formula inspired by the college football BCS, supplemented with subjective analysis based on recent results, divisional ratings have been compiled at Boxing Scene since 2008. The ratings can be found at: http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/view.php?pg=boxing-ratings
Below, the key results for September.
Heavyweight (201 lbs.-Unlimited) 09/15: #8 Samuel Peter (32-3, 25 KO) TKO2 Ronald Bellamy (14-10-4, 9 KO) 09/26: #1 Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37 KO, WBC) RTD10 #7 Cristobal Arreola (27-1, 24 KO)
Cruiserweight (176-200 lbs.) No BoxingScene rated fighters competed in September.
Light Heavyweight (169-175 lbs.) 09/25: #4 Jean Pascal (24-1, 16 KO, WBC) TKO10 Silvio Branco (59-10-2, 36 KO)
Super Middleweight (161-168 lbs.) 09/12: #1 Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KO) TKO4 Gusmyl Perdomo (16-3, 10 KO) 09/12: #8 Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KO) TKO3 Shelby Pudwill (22-4-1, 9 KO)
Middleweight (155-160 lbs.) 09/19: #3 Sebastian Sylvester (32-3, 15 KO) SD12 #10 Giovanni Lorenzo (27-2, 19 KO); vacant IBF belt
Jr. Middleweight (148-154 lbs.) No BoxingScene rated fighters competed in September.
Welterweight (141-147 lbs.) 09/19: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KO) UD12 World Lightweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KO, Lineal/Ring/WBA/WBO)
Jr. Welterweight (136-140 lbs.) No BoxingScene rated fighters competed in September.
Lightweight (131-135 lbs.) 09/19: #6 Michael Katsidis (26-2, 21 KO) SD12 Vicente Escobedo (21-2, 13 KO)
Jr. Lightweight (127-130 lbs.) 09/12: #3 Roman Martinez (23-0-1, 14 KO, WBO) KO9 Feider Viloria (22-5-1, 15 KO)
Featherweight (123-126 lbs.) 09/19: #1 Chris John (43-0-2, 22 KO, WBA) UD12 #5 Rocky Juarez (28-5-1, 20 KO)
Jr. Featherweight (119-122 lbs.) 09/26: #6 Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (39-1, 28 KO) TKO3 #4 Bernard Dunne (28-2, 15 KO, WBA Regular)
Bantamweight (116-118 lbs.) 09/12: #4 Fernando Montiel (39-2-2, 29 KO, WBO) Tech. Draw Alejandro Valdez (21-3-3, 15 KO) 09/12: #10 Nehomar Cermeno (18-0, 10 KO, WBA interim) UD12 Cristian Mijares (36-6-2, 15 KO)
Jr. Bantamweight (113-115 lbs.) 09/04: Marvin Sonsona (14-0, 12 KO) UD12 #4 Jose Lopez (39-8-2, 32 KO, WBO) 09/15: Simphiwe Nongqayi (16-0, 6 KO) UD12 #4 Jorge Arce (52-6-1, 40 KO); vacant IBF belt
Flyweight (109-112 lbs.) No BoxingScene rated fighters competed in September.
Jr. Flyweight (106-108 lbs.) 09/12: World Champion Ivan Calderon (33-0-1, 6 KO, Lineal/ Ring/WBO) TD7 #10 Rodel Mayol (25-4-1, 19 KO) 09/15: #1 Edgar Sosa (37-5, 21 KO, WBC) TKO6 Omar Soto (14-4-1, 6 KO)
Strawweight (105 lbs.) 09/12: #4 Donnie Nietes (25-1-3, 14 KO, WBO) SD12 #9 Manuel Vargas (26-4-1, 11 KO)
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected]
