Lane out, Martinez in for Elegele on Friday

Lane out, Aaron Martinez in for Joseph Elegele this Friday?

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

July 18, 2011

Sometimes in boxing a door closes but a window opens.

That is the case for unbeaten young Joseph Elegele, who was slated to meet once-beaten Lanard Lane this Friday in the co-feature as televised by ESPN Friday Night Fights. Elegele-Lane promised to be an intriguing battle between two young prospects.

Lane's lone loss came against capable junior middleweight Mike Dallas, Jr. on ShoBox but had not fought since, making it over a year of inactivity. He looked to serve as a solid but passable test for Elegele who was being showcased on the Gary Shaw promoted card headlined by Anthony Dirrell against Kevin Engel.

Ramos set for showdown with Shimoda

Ramos set for showdown with Shimoda

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

July 6, 2011

I don't usually like to inject myself into a story of mine, but rules are meant to be broken.

I've seen fifteen of his nineteen professional fights, nine of them in a ringside capacity. That has been no coincidence.

When I first saw unbeaten super bantamweight Rico Ramos turn pro just more than three years ago, I knew I was watching something that had the potential to be very special.

Even at twenty years old and against a non descript opponent, I felt that Ramos had the tools necessary to not only be a world champion, but a future pound-for-pound entrant.

Now set to contend for his first world title as he meets WBA 122-pound champion Akifumi Shimoda this Saturday in the opening televised bout of HBO Boxing After, my predictions are at a point where they have a chance of coming true.

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 3

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 3

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

July 3, 2011

With the Super Six World Boxing Classic headed down the final straightaway, Leave it in the Ring lead writer Mark Ortega makes a comprehensive appraisal of the groundbreaking tournament’s unfolding and considers what the future holds following its culmination. Included are insightful takes courtesy of Ken Hershman, vice president of Showtime Sports (the network responsible for producing the round robin), and Goossen-Tutor’s own Dan Goossen, who promotes Super Six finalist Andre Ward.

Here in part three, Ortega explores the possibility of Showtime staging a similarly structured tournament in the future, as well as which weight classes prove attractive for such a venture.

As the end draws near and certain questions are being asked (is the Super Six format friendly to future tournaments? Is Showtime ready for seconds?), it is natural to ponder the prospect of a Super Six sequel.

“I couldn't be happier with the way it played out; I loved doing it, I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had a weight division that could deliver this level of fights for this long of a period and promoters who were willing to participate,” enthused Showtime Sports’ Ken Hershman.

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 2

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 2

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

July 2, 2011

In part two, Ortega examines how Showtime and promoter Goossen-Tutor prepared themselves for the hiccups inevitable to this novel undertaking and also how the Super Six has affected the career trajectories of the participating fighters.

For Ken Hershman, or any diehard fight fan, satisfaction is guaranteed. In addition to two alphabet trinkets (and a big shiny trophy), tournament spoils include the illustrious vacant Ring title plus much-deserved accolades. And had the purpose of the Super Six not written itself, culminating with the a meeting of the division’s true leaders, Showtime had covered their bases by securing a lucrative multi-fight deal with Lucian Bute. So fans of the Romanian kingpin and those dubious about the legitimacy of Andre Ward and/or Carl Froch—poised to meet in Atlantic City on October 29—can breathe a sigh of relief come the inevitable match between Super Six victor and the undefeated IBF champion.

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 1

Dissecting the Super Six: Part 1

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

July 1, 2011

With the Super Six World Boxing Classic headed down the final straightaway, Leave it in the Ring lead writer Mark Ortega makes a comprehensive appraisal of the groundbreaking tournament’s unfolding and considers what the future holds following its culmination. Included are insightful takes courtesy of Ken Hershman, vice president of Showtime Sports (the network responsible for producing the round robin), and Goossen-Tutor’s own Dan Goossen, who promotes Super Six finalist Andre Ward.

In part one, Ortega explores the provenance of the Super Six and all the elements necessary for the execution of such a historic event.

Just shy of two years ago, an announcement was made that would rock the foundations of not only the 168-pound weight class, but of the boxing world. Showtime, the long time runner-up in terms of premium televised boxing coverage in the United States, had announced a six man, abbreviated round robin tournament that would make great strides in determining a true champion for a weight division that had been lacking in prestige.