SAN ANTONIO, TX – This nine-bout Bob Arum / Top Rank boxing card, as part of it’s Latin Fury brand, had a little something for everybody to get excited about from inside the cavernous Alamodome in sweltering San Antonio.
After all the fighting was over, I still hadn’t found an inspiration for my story. I wasn’t too worried as the Examiner had three beat writers there from Texas and many national writers from other news sources were on the scene to see an interesting main event featuring “Irish” John Duddy and Julio Cesar ” Son of the Legend” Chavez, Jr. and another Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in another televised fight.
In kind of a reach for legend status, Salvador “Nephew of the Legend” Sanchez II also fought on the televised portion of the card and wore trunks of his late Hall of Fame featherweight uncle Salvador Sanchez. The late Sanchez fought for rival promoter Don King but I digress.
My soon to be written story soon became clear as I watched the post-fight press conference unfold. This was unexpectedly one of the best press conferences I ever witnessed.
I thought the main reason for this, after I saw fighter after fighter speak, and answer media questions, was that there was little controversy as to the winners of the bouts.
But I was wrong. Finally what struck me was that Bob Arum and his newly-minted International Boxing Hall of Fame matchmaker Bruce Trampler had assembled a group of classy, sportsman-like fighters that appreciate the fans and media and didn’t mind spending those extra minutes taking a few photos or answering albeit some ridiculous questions when their handlers wanted to leave.
Barrera is such a pro in every sense of the word. Although I wish he would have stopped fighting by now, he fights on with the goal of being the first Mexican to win a world title in four different weight divisions. He was the first to win three!
Barrera speaks with confidence and authority. His English isn’t half-bad and he then repeats what he has just said in Spanish and it’s a smooth transition back and forth for him and the listeners. He seems to know his place among Mexican fans and all fight fans in general and will continue to be an ambassador for the sport.
Chavez, Jr came into the press conference room proudly displaying the bumps and bruises John Duddy dished out over 12 fun rounds of action. I wish he would have worn a pair of sun glasses though. He also showed poise in answering questions in Spanish and working with his co-promoter Fernando Beltran who made the English translation.
What I liked most though of the Chavez time at the podium was that he stopped in mid sentence upon the arrival of Duddy and congratulated him on a fine effort and asked him to step up and speak without ever taking a seat or an introduction from Bob Arum.
Duddy is a hard person not to like. He’s obviously a great sportsman. He has obvious good looks. He’s probably too tough for his own good and probably saw his best shot for bigger paydays go by the wayside after being outgunned by Chavez, Jr. I hope there is a place in boxing for him because with his basic skills, a magnetic, infectious personality and a big heart, boxing needs more like him in roles as trainers and recruiters.
Salvador Sanchez II was upset by Tomas Villa over eight rounds but even he, claiming he hurt his right hand in round two, was a good sportsman about, thanked Bob Arum for the opportunity, and hopes to do better next time.
Local world-rated jr. bantamweight Raul Martinez was a winner in a minor title fight and was the first fighter to take the stage and as if on cue held court talking about himself and his team until the other fighters showed up.
My hero of the entire fight week was Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels. Lee saw me melting in the 103 degree heat at the outdoor weigh in Friday and he hand-delivered a cold bottle of water to me.
Others of note on the scene were world-class referee Jon Schorle, who worked the main event; New York world-class judge Julie Lederman, cutman Joe Souza; Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr. and North American Boxing Federation president Joe Dwyer.
