Are you sure that was Freddie Roach and Justin Fortune working the corner for Manny Pacquaio Saturday night? From my perch in press row, what with the headbands and the Japanese-style shirts, it could’ve been a couple of Benihana chefs moonlighting in Pacman’s corner. They looked like the Wasabi Brothers with those getups….
This just in: Pacman’s shadow, Michael Koncz, informs me he never slept literally under Manny’s bed. He sleeps in Manny’s Gensan mansion in a bedroom under Manny’s bedroom and has a 62-inch TV for his viewing pleasure. I asked the Koncz Man for an interview and his comeback was great. “The less you know about me,” Koncz said, “the better off I am.” I will say this, from my limited observation, Koncz seems to be on point for any and all logistical details for Manny. It wasn’t his or Pacquaio’s fault that the Solis camp, which went into the ring first, went to the wrong corner…
I really don’t know who the second best fight judge in the world is. But I think there is little doubt by now that the steadiest and most accurate is New Jersey’s Tom Kaczmarek.
Too bad he travels the globe wearing that foolish Yankees cap…a guy like that should be part of Red Sox Nation…
Next time I see Jorge “Coloradito” Solis, I must ask him if there is a three knockdown rule in his house in Guadalajara. Solis foolishly said that his wife hits harder than Pacquaio. Solis seems like an affable guy so let’s chalk it up to a stupid remark made in the wake of a crunching defeat…
Matching Solis with the somewhat distracted Pacman was good matchmaking by Top Rank maestro Bruce “Southland” Trampler but his protege, Sean “Mister X” Gibbons, found a perfect foe for JC Chavez Jr .in Anthony Shuler. Now, after 30 bouts, it’s time to wean Junior off the tomato can diet. Which reminds me, what reason is there to not make Chavez-Arturo Gatti? The name value alone is staggering. If that doesn’t have HBO “Boxing After Dark” written all over it, I don’t know what does…
Jesse James Leija, San Antonio legend, is a bit fat at age 40. But he’s just said no to repeated requests from local power brokers that he go into politics. He and his legal eagle, Michael Miller, hope to push welterweight Golden Johnson to a world title shot this year. Leija remains hugely popular in his hometown…
Hovering around ringside was Matt “Housecat” Stolow, who used to make an interesting living in boxing. Stolow got paid to hang out in what is euphemistically known in Texas as “gentlemen’s clubs.” Stolow spent so much time in the glitzy strip joints that he was trying to peddle a TV show called “Leave It To Cleavage.” I’ll skip the joke abut Jerry Mathers playing The You Know Who. Stolow’s angle was he would sell closed circuit boxing to the strip clubs. But then the ‘Cat’ got into a lawsuit with CC kingpin Joe Gagliardi. The suit is pending…
New York Times Sunday magazine carries nifty piece on Shannon Briggs, who says “nyet” to Russian domination of heavyweight titles. Article was written by an academic type, Boston College professor and boxing maven Carlo Rotella. My recollection is that this is first boxing piece in the prestigious magazine since they made Amir Khan a cover boy a year or so ago. Which reminds me that a decent “grudge” fight would be Briggs against Evander Holyfield. I don’t know the genesis of the rift but they truly do not like each other….
The fight seems to be losing what little steam it had but Fernando Vargas did call his trainer since boyhood, Eduardo Garcia of the La Colonia gym in Oxnard, and ask the man who developed both ‘Nando and Robert Garcia into world champions to get him ready for bully boy Ricardo Mayorga. Since the phone call, though, Vargas has not been heard from…
Brothers Jim and Dennis Rider, who have the Silverhawk promotional group and a topflight boxing director in Big Jeff Grmoja, are battling daily to find a worthy opponent for their heavyweight Cedric Boswell. If Boswell can’t fight, as some say, why are so many of his contemporaries ducking him? Boswell, who turns 38 in July, will fight on Silverhawk’s May 18 Denver area show (Bloomfield Events Center) along with hometown guy Stevie “Lil But Bad” Johnston. Ticket info may be obtained by calling 702 492 4922 or signing on to www.silverhawkboxing.com. Boswell’s lone loss was a TKO 10 by Jameel McCline which is no shame…
Globetrotting boxing agent Don Majeski makes it a point to visit any nearby zoo in his boxing travels. I must ask him to compare the wildlife in boxing and in the zoos…
