FOR sure, there are some mighty right hands out there that look very impressive. They shake a man right down to his core and produce knockouts.
And then there?s Fedor Emelianenko?s.
Last Sunday, I caught a replay of his first round knockout over Andre Arlovski for the WAMMA heavyweight championship which simply left me breathless with awe.
As Arlovski was pushing Fedor backwards with his own strikes, the former got giddy and boldly attempted what purported to be a flying knee strike.
Arlovski?s body tensed for the attempted flight, but Fedor saw the opening and launched a beautiful counter right on the chin just as Arlovski?s body started its vertical climb.
Wham! The sudden impact made Arlovski?s body twist and fall to the ground in one swift movement, his head banging on the canvas face-first, his body momentarily reduced to a lifeless heap.
How do you say knockout in Russian? FEDOR!
VICTIMS. If you never saw Fedor fight before you would have been tempted to call it a fluke, but those heavy hands have produced stoppage wins over former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia, Gary Goodridge and Heath Herring. He has also defeated Antonio Noguiera, Mark Hunt, and Mark Colemen.
He?s the best heavyweight mixed martial artist in the world, without a doubt. It?s a shame the UFC and WAMMA have yet to catch on to the unification trend in pro-boxing.
MEXICAN GERMAN. Anytime you put in a mover against a counter-puncher you get an unwatchable fight. WBO Bantamweight king Gerry Penalosa went about his business last Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum, stalking Mexican German Meraz and patiently looking for openings.
Trouble was the latter put on track shoes and was quite content on prancing and preening around the ring all night long.
Gerry did manage to land a few shots every now and then, but these only strengthened the Mexican?s resolve to evade exchanges.
In retrospect, that booming left hand which produced a knock-down in the second round probably and unfortunately dictated the tempo of the remainder of the fight: Gerry chasing and Meraz backpedaling for dear life.
READY FOR LOPEZ. Last Rounder Mike Lopez, a Mexican who resides in Cebu, doubled as a corner man for Meraz in that fight. He e-mailed me his revelations:
?Good day. I worked the corner for the two Mexican fighters. Meraz is still young at 22. Not much experience but he has never been KO?d. As all his losses were by decision and always against southpaws. He admitted that he is not good against southpaws, but said he trained hard for Pe?alosa by sparring with southpaw fighters.?
?He is not at the level of Pe?alosa and he knows it. He wanted to go back to Mexico and tell the people he went 10 rounds with the world champion, unlike fellow Mexican Jhonny Gonzalez who was knocked out.
They admitted that Gerry can beat Lopez (Juan Manuel)! I got permission from Dodie Boy if I could help the Mexicans in their corner, since we have been friends for many years. He was ok with it and was happy.?
That?s good to know Mike. I?m glad Meraz?s team thinks Gerry has what it takes to beat Lopez , but that fight was hardly the tune-up that Gerry needed to prepare for a murderous puncher like Lopez.
Still, it was good for Gerry to exercise those 36-year-old legs. Ring rust spares nobody and that was only Gerry?s second fight since the Gonzales win in August 2007.
IBP ELECTIONS. Attention all my compa?eros and compa?eras. Please vote for your new set of officers this coming Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 at the Palace of Justice, from 8 to 12 a.m.
No, texters? choice votes do not count.
LAST ROUND. It?s on my good friend Atty. Oscar Tan Jr. and his pride and joy, Atty. Oscar Tan III, who both recently celebrated their birthdays. Cheers!
