Most boxing fans I know are not a forgiving bunch. They remember each and every stinker they were forced to watch, pay for, and or sleep through. But, rather than focusing on the negative I prefer to discuss the fighters we fight fans can always count on to get the blood pumping and have us yelling at the TV the way Bobby Knight yells at officials.
For my money, five fighters I feel I can trust to keep me glued to the tube are Fernando Vargas, Arturo Gatti, Micky Ward, Manny Pacquiao, and Felix Trinidad. I’m not convinced Tito is retired for good so I still consider him active.
I also considered Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, and Marco Antonio Barrera. However, Shane’s lackluster performance in July versus Vernon Forrest, Oscar’s track meet versus Trinidad, and Barrera’s decision to utilize cautious “boxing” tactics of late eliminated them from contention. Others receiving consideration are Naseem Hamed and Tim Austin.
In my opinion, to be considered an exciting fighter, one must be:
Willing to throw caution to the wind in order to beat his opponent/s.
Powerful and have the ability to knockout his opponent.
Able to deal with crisis and fight back when things look bleak
A fighter who fights with passion, commitment, and heart
Willing to inflict pain on his opponent because it’s a fight!
In my opinion Vargas, Pacquiao, Gatti, Ward, and Trinidad have more of these qualities than most other fighters. I say “most other fighters” because I have not seen every fighter out there. Therefore, I cannot say without a doubt that these are the 5 most exciting fighters. However, these are the most exciting fighters I’ve seen.
Fernando Vargas has provided boxing fans with many great memories. He’s fought eight championship bouts in just 23 fights and he is the youngest fighter to win the Super Welterweight Championship. He did so in only his 15th pro fight. Vargas is a strong fighter with 20 knockouts on his resume. He’s gone to war with the likes of Yori Boy Campas, Ike “Bazooka” Quartey, and Felix “Tito” Trinidad.
Against Campas, he gave up a huge advantage in experience. Not only was it his 15th pro fight, it was also his first championship fight, and Campas had a whopping 74 bouts under his belt. It made no difference though, as he punished Campas with accurate power punching and superior hand speed, forcing him to quit after seven rounds
In April of 2000 Vargas out hustled Quartey, in what was probably the runner up for fight of the year to Barrera-Morales I. His fight with Quartey was one of those rare occasions where each fighter attempted to impose his will on the other and the upper hand seemed to change hands on several occasions.
Vargas won the early rounds by using solid boxing skills and actually out jabbing Ike. But, Quartey seemed to take control of the middle rounds with big right hands, and just when it appeared the more experienced “Bazooka” was going to take total command of the fight, Vargas rallied to win the championship rounds, throwing close to 100 punches per round in the process. He displayed great determination and a willingness to win at all costs earning a tough well deserved decision.
Vargas will be remembered for making a great fight out of a disastrous first round when he took on Trinidad. Within the first minute of the bout Vargas was rocked by Trinidad and floored twice. Many assumed the fight was close to being over. Even Trinidad ran to the ring post and jumped on the ropes in celebration. However, no one knew the size of the heart Vargas possesses.
Vargas rose from the second knockdown and was able to stay away from Trinidad and survived the round. Although he survived the round many still felt the end was near. But, nobody told Vargas! In rounds 2 and 3 he fought cautiously as he tried to gather himself and recover from the two knockdowns while Tito attacked with bombs. Slowly, he began to work his way into the fight by working behind his jab and using defense.
In round four Fernando seemed to be getting his legs back when he caught Tito with a left hook, sending him to the seat of his pants. From that point on it was a war! Neither man was going to roll over and give the fight to the other. It was clear that the winner was going to have to push himself. For eleven rounds, Vargas held his own with the thunderous punching Trinidad and earned greater respect in defeat than many fighters get from victory.
What can I say about Tito that hasn’t already been said? The man fights with his heart. If there is one thing we know about Tito it’s when he fights, he’s going to try and take his opponents head off with power shot after power shot! He is going to be relentless and apply constant pressure until one of his bombs connects. Trinidad has also given the fans many great memories, whether you rooted for him or against him, throughout his career.
In his 20th pro bout he captured the Welterweight Championship by destroying Maurice Blocker. The image of Blocker falling like a redwood is forever etched into my memory. Most boxing fans will not forget his pounding of Yori Boy Campas either.
Campas hurt Tito with a short left hand and many thought Campas would finish him. However, Tito recuperated quickly and began to use his boxing skills. Eventually, Trinidad’s bombs found the mark and it didn’t take long for Campas to feel the effects. Although Campas displayed an unreal chin, it worked to his detriment because he was unable to evade Trinidad’s bombs. Trinidad landed blow after blow, yet Campas refused to go down. Finally, with Campas unable to defend himself, the referee made a merciful stoppage. It was a fight in which Tito was decked early only to come storming back with heavier artillery of his own, something that has seemed to become commonplace in Trinidad fights.
Trinidad has scored some of the most impressive knockouts in recent memory. He made William Joppy do the “Zab Judah dance” before Zab displayed his fancy footwork in his bout with Tszyu. He had David Reid hanging on for survival for the last 5 rounds of their fight, he rose off the canvas against Vargas to storm back and score a KO in the 12th of their epic battle, and he stalked and hammered Pernell Whitaker for much of their fight.
Tito is so dangerous Oscar De La Hoya attempted to turn from brawler to boxer in order to avoid trading punches with Tito. Although it seemed De La Hoya was in control of the fight his coasting down the stretch cost him. Perhaps Oscar didn’t expect Tito to keep coming and coming and coming. Oscar saw a man with a bloody nose, who seemed to be outclassed and frustrated in front of him. Oscar assumed the fight was won, but in coasting and running away from Tito he was fighting Tito’s fight. When Oscar decided to coast, Tito began to land punches with greater frequency and with more power on them. If Oscar thought the fight was won, there was no way Tito was going to concede it to him. That would be disgraceful to a proud fighter like Tito, not to mention his fans.
There is no denying Tito’s heart, will, and determination to win at all costs. Even when Bernard Hopkins outclassed him, he kept coming, stalking, and trying to land the punch that would turn the fight around. He was hurt badly at the end of the 10th round but like a true warrior he came out and fought on for the 11th and 12th rounds. Not until Hopkins landed a wicked right hand did Tito succumb to the beating Hopkins put on him.
Although he has announced his retirement, many of us hope it is not definite. He truly gives the fans what we want, action, and with so many “jokers” boxing nowadays we need more fighters like him.
Arturro Gatti may be the most exciting fighter around. He has suspect defense, but a very good chin. He has limited boxing skills, but very good power. That means he’s going to get hit, but if he hits you back, watch out! Gatti is the ultimate comeback kid. He has demonstrated on many occasions the heart and will of a champion. He has the ability to dig deep when he’s in trouble and pull himself out of what appear to be hopeless situations.
In his fight with Wilson Rodriguez he had a badly swollen and almost closed eye. The ring doctor asked Gatti to cover his eye and proceeded to ask, while holding up two fingers “how many fingers?” Not being able to see Gatti pulled a fast one! Gatti moved his glove, and the doctor then told Gatti “Cover your eye!” Having already seen how many fingers the Doc had up, Gatti covered his eye and responded “two.” The doctor let him continue.
The display of courage was justified a few moments later when Gatti, after absorbing a great deal of punishment from Rodriguez, landed a vicious left hook, which sent Rodriguez to the canvas for the 10 count. He seems to fight like a wounded animal. He fights to the bitter end when he’s hurt.
Gabriel Ruelas knows this better than anyone. The hard punching Ruelas seemed to have Gatti stunned and was going for the knockout. However, Ruelas found out Gatti is most dangerous when he’s hurt. Facing a hard puncher who was trying to knock his head off, Gatti was able to withstand the punishment and fight back with his own power punches until he landed a devastating left hook that planted Ruelas on the canvas and forced the referee to stop the fight. It was a fourth round knockout, but the action they packed into those four rounds was more than some fights pack in twelve.
In my opinion, no one would have blamed Gatti if he didn’t answer the bell for the 10th round of his bout with Mickey Ward. His trainer, Buddy McGirt, threatened to stop the fight in between rounds, but Gatti would have none of that. Gatti recuperated and won the 10th round. His fight with Ward will undoubtedly be remembered as an all time classic! Each man fought as if his life depended on it. Each man dug deep within himself to continue. Each man fought furiously until the final bell.
Each man gave so much of himself most boxing fans I talked to didn’t care who was declared the winner. What’s more, a few people remarked, “I’m not sure I want to see a rematch.” That statement gives indication of what type of fight it was. It was so brutal and primal it’s almost unfair of us to ask them to fight each other again. Ali said, after his third fight with Frazier, “That’s the closest I’ve ever been to death,” and I can’t help but wonder if Gatti and Ward know exactly what he meant.
I’ve only seen Mickey Ward fight one time, but what an impression he made! In his aforementioned fight with Arturo Gatti, Ward displayed amazing toughness while absorbing all of Gatti’s thunderous punches and answering with heavy shots of his own. Gatti seemed to be out-boxing Ward early in the fight, but his constant pressure and body attack lured Gatti into a slugfest. Nobody ever accused Gatti of avoiding an all out war.
From the middle rounds on to the end, both men fought furiously. Ward hurt Gatti on several occasions but Gatti some how mustered enough energy to survive and respond. Gatti caught Ward with some vicious punches, but Ward seemed unfazed. It didn’t matter what Gatti tried to do, Ward was all over him. Gatti attempted to resort back to boxing tactics, when he realized there was no stopping Ward, but Irish Mickey didn’t let him. Ward appeared to be tired at times and Gatti would gain an advantage. However, just as Gatti was able to recuperate at times, so did Ward. There were times Ward appeared to be so exhausted he couldn’t defend himself properly, but out of nowhere he’d summon the energy to fight back. Ward’s left hooks to the body were things of beauty, well as beautiful as a brutal and punishing left hook to the rib section can be.
The best thing I can say about Ward is he is one tough son of a bitch! He will fight his heart out every time and always provide us with good action. Like Gatti, he also has a suspect defense and gets hit a lot but Ward probably wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s a throwback type fighter that brings his lunch pale with him to every bout. His propensity to get into shootouts makes him a fan favorite.
Another fighter who is quickly becoming an action fan’s favorite is Manny Pacquiao. Although he weighs only 122 pounds, he packs quite a thump. He has power in both hands and looks to use his power to inflict hurt on his opponent. In addition, he fights with an enormous amount of energy and also boasts quick hands and feet.
While his resume lacks big time names and a defining fight, he has knocked out fourteen of his last fifteen opponents and twenty-eight overall. Pac-Man failed to KO Agapito Sanchez in their unification bout on November 10th, 2001. Fearing Pac-Man’s power, Sanchez used roughhouse tactics and grappling techniques to make it an ugly fight. The two fought to a technical draw, with the fight being stopped after a clash of heads in the 6th round.
In June 2002, on the Lewis-Tyson undercard, Pacquiao rebounded from the draw with Sanchez by taking out Jorge Eliecer Julio in impressive fashion via 2nd round TKO. He displayed the same quick strike ability that won him the IBF Bantamweight championship when he knocked out highly regarded Lehlo Ledwaba.
Pac-Man went into the Ledwaba fight on only two weeks notice and as an underdog, but emerged a potential superstar. He pummeled Ledwaba almost from beginning to end. He hurt Ledwaba badly in the 2nd round, but Ledwaba was able to beat the count and survive the round. Pacquiao began to systematically take Ledwaba apart.
Although Ledwaba tried to stay on the outside Pac-Man applied pressure and connected with power shots repeatedly. In the 6th round, with Ledwaba a bloody mess, Pac-Man knocked the champion down twice more before the bout was stopped.
Pacquiao is now in prime position for some big fights. He is a known fighter, most fans love his style, and more importantly HBO loves broadcasting his fights. There are many great fighters in and around the 122-pound weight division, which would be very appealing match-ups to fans worldwide. All of that means we should see him in some very exciting fights very soon. Fight of the year type fights. Imagine him taking on Paulie Ayala, Tim Austin, Erik Morales, Naseem Hamed, or Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pac-Man is capable of not only holding his own against all of them but also winning. One thing I know for sure, he will try like hell to win and against a puncher like Pac-Man no fighter can afford to take him lightly. He is only twenty-three years old and has a bright future ahead of him
These fighters are not the only exciting fighters in boxing, just the few I chose to spotlight. I certainly enjoy watching any fighter with a pulse and a desire to win, but I don’t feel I can count on most of them as I can these five. Of course, everyone will have their favorites but let it be known I want Tito to lose every time he steps in the ring, I don’t think much of Gatti and Ward as “World Class” fighters, and Pac-Man needs to step up his competition, but that doesn’t prevent me from seeing how exciting they are and how valuable they all can be to the sport of boxing. We need more fighters willing to take risks in order to prove they’re better than most fighters, maximize their potential, and achieve greatness. Roy Jones Jr., I hope YOU read this!
Bias Contributing Writer Prizefightnews.com
