Boxodeon

Chavez Jr. looks to have a looong way to go, still…

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Everybody’s got an opinion

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Cotto-Margarito Face-Off w/ Max Kellerman. Christmas is coming early!!

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Photo by: Chris Cozzone - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfNBsaVCTkA

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Inside the Ropes - The Referee

with Kenny Bayless

The referee plays a essential role in all boxing matches and is commonly referred to as the “third man in the ring.” Refereeing is a subjective profession that requires personal judgment on objective rules. Sometimes it’s their call to stop a fight – which can be either merciful or premature; the later induces an infinite amount of criticism from every nook-and-cranny of the sport.

Kenny Bayless, who has refereed close to 60 major title fights, is held in the highest esteem among boxing pundits and fans – a critical bunch of folk, indeed. He was gracious enough to take time to enlighten Boxodeon, and our readers, with his personal insights. His perspective on both the sport of boxing and the role of the referee will add appreciation and qualitative depth to any future boxing match.

Boxodeon: “What makes for a high-quality referee?”

K. Bayless: “Pride. I take pride in staying in shape. I make it a point to work out with elastic bands, as well as running and jogging. It’s all about staying healthy. Also, being consistent. Fans, sportswriters and commentators can tell the story if we’re consistent. Commentators were positive towards my Marquez-Katsidis stoppage because I had good body positioning all night. I have been blessed to make the right calls.

I had a moment that was very embarrassing to me in the Pacquiao-Mosely fight. I missed a call, made the wrong call and after I saw the replay. I spoke at the post-fight critique and made it known. I had to make myself accountable.”

B: “How do you keep on top of your game?”

KB: “Referees in Nevada and California communicate a lot. I myself am a student of the game. I study other fights and put myself in the other referee’s shoes, even if I’m at home eating popcorn and having a drink. If there’s a controversy I’ll call other referees and we’ll talk about what they saw. At events, I’ll meet up with the other guys and we’ll just talk and create scenarios that might not happen just to pick our brains so mechanics take over. I have to be on my ‘A’ game all the time, fighters deserve it.”

B: “Can you explain your decision-making hierarchy as things happen so quickly in a fight?”

KB: “In a big fight it’s like reading a book, and the fight unfolds just like a book. You don’t know the outcome until you get to the end. I try to read it. If it’s switching back-and-forth between the fighters it’s my job to position myself to get the best angle as it unfolds, making sure not to miss anything. I need to be able to initiate mechanically.”

B: “What are a few of the things that you’re looking for during a fight?”

KB: “If I don’t know either fighter, like a club fight, it’s more difficult because I haven’t followed these guy’s careers. First, I try to guage the ability of the fighters; is one fighter’s ability that much greater? If it is I have to watch the lesser ability guy more closely because I don’t want to see anyone get beat up. Also, no hitting and holding, keeping punches up, and depending on the style of the fighters, that their heads aren’t coming into contact. It’s easier with guys who’s careers I’ve followed. In the major fights, fighters stay within the rules more and stay clean. Safety is number one.”

B: “Is there a measuring stick or metric system used to grade referee’s performances?”

KB: “In Las Vegas, the metric system is the executive director, Keith Kizer, and his five commissioners. We have a post-fight critique where we go over the entire evening. We’ll present what we saw with Keith, the commissioners and the doctors. Keith is the measuring stick. Afterwards, he goes back and analyzes everything. Representing the WBC, we are on a rotation and he rotates the best he feels. He may take us out for a fight or two and we don’t question his call.”

B: “What attracted you to the sport of boxing?”

KB: “When Muhammad Ali was fighting on ABC’s Wide World of Sports with (Howard) Cosell it was like those two were made for each other. Watching them is what got me into boxing. I was born and raised in the bay area of California and I moved to Las Vegas after college in 1972. Since there were no professional sports in Vegas it was something I wasn’t used to. Then I started going to the club fights at the Sahara and Silver Circle. When Ali fought at the Convention Center in Vegas I had to go. I was like a kid in a candy store and I just knew I had to be apart of the sport.”

Box: “How does boxing restore it’s prominence?”

KB: “Taking advantage of instant replay when it determines the outcome of a fight, but not on a round to round basis. It leaves a bad taste in the fans mouth when the appropriate call isn’t made. It needs to be used. If you love the sport you have to take the good with the bad. Keep your faith in the sport because we don’t get controversies every other weekend.”

B: “And how does it become more attractive for fans?”

KB: “It’s sports entertainment. It’s entertainment now. People want to be entertained, just like in every sport. Sports fans that are being developed now don’t know how it used to be. First, there was only the WBA. Then the WBC, and years after the IBF. As more organizations were developing there were more titles which gave guys more opportunities. This was a great thing. But, you’ve got too many now, possibly. Is it good for the sport, the politics, the money and guys not fighting each other? It’s up to the fighters now. They’re gonna fight who they want to fight. The sport has changed in that way.”

B: “In as few words as possible can you summarize what it’s like in the ring?”

KB: “Concentration, excitement, focus and mechanics.”

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On May 2, 2009, Manny Pacquiao and Rick Hatton faced off at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, in-front of a sold-out crowd of 16,262 blood-thirsty fight fans. The light welterweight world-title fight was billed as the battle between east and west. Fans from the Philippines flooded the city in drones of multiple thousands, while 25,000 Brits flew-in to get behind their “Hitman.”

KB: “It was like a war between the fans to see who could be the loudest. There was a lot of excitement, it was so electrifying.”

Freddy Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, predicted the fight wouldn’t go past the third, and after one of the most electrifying first rounds – where Hatton met the canvas twice – it seemed all but inevitable this would be a short night.

KB: “I had an adrenaline rush and I’ve never experienced that before. I’ve never had it since. I literally had to talk to myself after the first (round). I had to be in control in a way that was unnoticeable to all those people. It’s all mechanics”

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Fight Hype – Pacquiao vs Marquez – 144 lb Fight

HBO PPV – Saturday, November 12 at 8 p.m. CT

Boxing is a sport filled with legendary men from the most obscure walks of life, but Manny Pacquiao’s story may be without rival. And, while Forbes reported his total earnings at $40 million last year, his self-perception is still that of a poor street-kid selling flowers and doughnuts for 20 cents a day to feed his family.

“We were very, very, very, very poor,” says Pacquiao, recalling his humble upbringing which included sleeping on dirt floors with no running water. “We were in a one-bedroom hut made of bamboo and cardboard. It was very difficult. That’s why I had to work when I was very young, to help my brothers and sisters go to school. That’s how I grew up.”

It’s exactly that formidable upbringing that has styled the man HBO analyst Larry Merchant refers to as the “Human Typhoon.” Pacquiao’s fighting style is indicative of where he’s come from and how he’s achieved his influence in the world today: outfighting who ever is in-front of him.

“Getting hit is part of what we signed up for. I actually look forward to it because it’s something that I know people love. It’s important for me to win the fight but it’s not the most important thing. The most important thing is to show people who spend their hard-earned money that they can be entertained by the way I fight.”

Pacquiao, who fights to invigorate the collective spirit of boxing fans, was recently elected to congress in his home country of the Philippines to do the same with his countrymen’s spirit. Yes, a professional boxer holds office in politics.

“(Politics) is a very dirty business here in the Philippines. That’s the reason I’m in it now, to change the view of it and the overall way of politics here. I’m coming in as somebody who already has money, who doesn’t need money, doesn’t need to be corrupt, doesn’t need to take advantage of people. But also somebody who has been there – to help the people who are suffering, and that is where I was. To show them it can be done.”

Manny Pacquio’s entire life has been showing, not just filipinos, but all of humanity what can be done. The only true limit each of us have is that which we place on ourselves. So, if you can dream big – like having your face on a postage stamp – just remember everyone has to start somewhere, and it all begins with a dream.

“My first fight was at 108 pounds, but I was only 96 pounds. I was 16 years old. I always knew I would be a world champion.”

*(Interviewed by InterviewMagazine.com)

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Overview

Pacquiao: Pac-man is 32-years old and he’s only getting better. He is an all-time great and has a limited agenda left in the sport. Why? Because it’s just not a fair fight for any of the other boxing champions in the world.

Combined record of last 3 opponents: 119-15-1

May 7, 2011 – (W) UD 12 over Shane Mosely (46-6-1)
November 12, 2010 – (W) UD 12 over Antonio Margarito (38-6)
March 12, 2010 – (W) UD 12 over Joshua Clottey (35-3)

Marquez: At 38-years old there is nothing more to prove. Once the forgotten fighter in the incredibly-abundant stable of Mexican lightweights in the late 90s and early 2000s, Marquez’s wars with Pacquiao have made him a legend. This could be his last stand.

Combined record of last 3 opponents: 86-8

July 16, 2011 – (W) TKO’d Likar Ramos (24-3) in 1^st
November 16, 2010 – (W) TKO’d Michael Katsidis (27-2) in 9^th
July 31, 2010 – (W) UD 12 over Juan Diaz (35-3)

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Style Points

Pacquiao: You won’t see anyone in the sport of boxing that enjoys to fight as much as this guy. Pac-man won’t stop bouncing, is incredibly balance and throws shots from angles no-one has ever thrown before – and with hurculean power. His lead left was his KO punch, but as he’s developed so has his right. There isn’t a more explosive puncher today with either hand.

Marquez: ‘The’ Mexican counter-puncher is an orthodox fighter, and at the age of 38, he appears to be in just as good of shape as he was 3 years ago. Marquez is very balanced and throws textbook form punches. His right hand has always landed with consistency halting Pac-man’s attacks, so it needs to be as sharp as ever.

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Final Thought

Pacquiao was forced to discipline himself after the second Marquez fight when he decided to keep moving up and beating all the champions this side of 154. This will be a whole different guy in there Saturday, and the question then lingers about May 5^th.

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Weekly Reportings

Check out a few of the top stories going around the world of boxing this week: