No better way to experience Mark Kozelek than in SF

No better way to experience Mark Kozelek than in SF

Mark E. Ortega

March 3, 2014

Saturday night, I ventured out to Great American Music Hall in San Francisco to see Mark Kozelek play a show ten blocks from where the former Red House Painters singer lives, according to some of his between song banter that evening.

I had interviewed Kozelek back in 2011 for Queensberry-Rules.com, not so much about music, but about boxing. Kozelek’s spin off from Red House Painters is named Sun Kil Moon, named for the South Korean boxer. On Sun Kil Moon’s first album Ghosts of a Great Highway exists a song “Salvador Sanchez”, named for the legendary Mexican fighter who died tragically at 23 years of age. 

Top 25 Prospects Final Report Card

Top 25 Prospects Final Report Card
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
January 5, 2013


When I first began contributing to TQBR, one of my first submissions was a list of 25 prospects that I had my eye on. Throughout 2012, I tracked their progress, even turning in a mid-year report on how they had done up until that point.

This piece marks a final report card on how those 25 fighters fared. Together, they combined for an astonishing 74-4 mark with 53 KOs, something that far exceeded my expectations when I first compiled the list.

This also marks my final contribution to TQBR as a staff writer, as I have decided in 2013 to focus more of my time on my weekly boxing column with the Northern California newspaper, the Martinez News-Gazette. By doing so, I felt as though I wouldn't have enough time to be a full-time contributor to TQBR and decided with editor Tim Starks' blessing it was time to move forward. I plan on still contributing the odd freelance piece online, though no destination has yet been determined.

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Does Shane Mosley Deserve Another Go 'Round?

Does Shane Mosley Deserve Another Go 'Round?
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 20, 2012

When it was floated out there that we could potentially be seeing 147-pound titlist Paulie Malignaggi defending his strap against a comebacking Shane Mosley next year at Barclays Center, it was met immediately with complete disdain from the boxing community.

The reaction of this writer was congruent to that at first, but after thinking about it, felt as though it is pretty knee jerk. Yes, Mosley has looked like he has lost a step in his previous four fights since demolishing Antonio Margarito in January 2009, which now seems like a lifetime ago. But take into account that his two losses at 147, where he'd be fighting Malignaggi, came against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Against Canelo Alvarez in May, Mosley looked like he couldn't pull the trigger, but that fight took place at 154 where Shane never really was unstoppable, even closer to his prime. Doesn't a warrior like Mosley, who fought everyone, deserve an opportunity to prove he doesn't have it anymore?

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Amir Khan stops Carlos Molina in comeback victory

Amir Khan stops Carlos Molina in comeback victory
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 16, 2012


LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Saturday night at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on Showtime Championship Boxing, Carlos Molina fought like a guy in search of that Cinderella moment, similar to the one Josesito Lopez found in his shock victory against Victor Ortiz in June.

Alas, the glass slipper didn't quite fit Molina. With blood seeping into his eye from almost the opening bell, Molina acquitted himself well en route to a 10th round stoppage loss against a comebacking Amir Khan in front of 6,109 fans. With the win, Khan put a stop to his two bout losing streak in his first fight under the guidance of renowned trainer Virgil Hunter.

In the opening round, Khan showed more control than in previous bouts, as he pushed Molina back with combinations but didn't allow himself to be lured into a firefight the way the Khan of old often did. Molina was cut over his left eye in the opening minute of the fight.

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Jessie Vargas pounds out decision over Vito Gasparyan

Jessie Vargas pounds out decision over Vito Gasparyan
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 8, 2012

LAS VEGAS—In the second night of Top Rank's boxing extravaganza in Las Vegas, local welterweight contender Jessie Vargas pounded out a 10 round unanimous decision over durable Vito Gasparyan of Glendale, Calif. at the Texas Station Gambling Hall on Friday night.

Vargas did a lot of solid work to the body, which helped slow Gasparyan down much earlier than he would have liked. Gasparyan landed, but it was usually arm punches around the guard of Vargas rather than flush shots on the chin.

Vargas opened up early in the fight and allowed Gasparyan catch him with solid counters. Vargas then adjusted his gameplan to fight more on the inside, as he was on Gasparyan's chest for much of the night.

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Raymundo Beltran tops Ji-Hoon Kim, overcoming a knockdown

Raymundo Beltran tops Ji-Hoon Kim, overcoming a knockdown
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 7, 2012

LAS VEGAS -- In a topsy-turvy lightweight bout, Raymundo Beltran and Ji-Hoon Kim engaged in an entertaining battle in the 10-round main event at the Mirage Hotel & Casino on a special Thursday edition of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. It was the first fight at the Mirage in more than 15 years, and Beltran won the unanimous decision.

The opening round was as crowd-pleasing as they come as Beltran was dropped hard in the opening minute but was able to battle back and put Kim on the canvas in the final seconds of the round.

Beltran carried that momentum into the 2nd. He battered Kim for much of the salvo and would have finished the job of he had five more seconds as Kim was out on his feet but was saved by the bell.

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West Coast Boxing Report, Dec. 3

West Coast Boxing Report, Dec. 3
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 3, 2012

Devon Alexander-Kell Brook Likely Headed for Los Angeles 

Last week, talks began to surface that the Jan. 19 Showtime Championship Boxing card headlined by Devon Alexander (24-1, 13 KOs) of St. Louis and Kell Brook (29-0, 19 KOs) of the United Kingdom was projected to take place in Las Vegas, likely at the MGM Grand. The bout will be for Alexander's IBF 147 pound belt.

The card, which will run against an HBO tripleheader in New York that same night, will instead take place in Los Angeles, according to sources close to the promotion, with an announcement likely being made Wednesday as to the venue and undercard.

Junior welterweight Lucas Matthysse is a name that has been mentioned for the televised undercard, with Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer saying matchmaker Eric Gomez would have an opponent ready for announcement in the matter of a few days. [UPDATE: Golden Boy matchmaker Robert Diaz confirmed via e-mail Tuesday that the card would take place at Nokia Theater in L.A., and that Matthysse would be in the co-main event in a three-bout broadcast.]

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Ten more fights that deserve the HBO Legendary Nights treatment

Ten more fights that deserve the HBO Legendary Nights treatment
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
November 30, 2012

When HBO Sports churned out a series of 30-minute documentaries on twelve of the best fights broadcast on their airwaves, we watched. In 2003, HBO took us inside twelve different rivalries, giving us certain insights that you wouldn't have known unless you were an insider when the fights took place. For some of these fights, there were no message boards. In 2003, there was no YouTube.

But thankfully, with the excellent narrating skills of Liev Schreiber and studio work of Jim Lampley (a much better Lampley than we are seeing on “The Fight Game”), old fans were able to relive, and new fans were introduced to, these twelve matchups: Larry Holmes-Gerry Cooney, Aaron Pryor-Alexis Arguello, Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler-Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez-Meldrick Taylor, Mike Tyson-Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe, Riddick Bowe-Andrew Golota, Michael Moorer-George Foreman, Oscar De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad and Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson.

As a burgeoning fight fan in 2003, the production value and format of these documentaries helped my interest grow even larger. It made me want to go back and read work from some of the veteran sportswriters that were featured, like the Boston Globe's Ron Borges or Tim Kawakami (then of the Philadelphia Daily News). It made me want to gain access to the footage of these fights, which in 2003 was a ton more difficult than it is today.

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James Page's comeback unsuccessful, stopped in two rounds

James Page's comeback unsuccessful, stopped in two rounds
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
November 19, 2012

NATOMAS, Calif.--Saturday night, on a small club show in Natomas, Calif., former WBA welterweight beltholder James Page returned to the ring for the first time in more than a decade at 41 years of age in the six-round main event at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel against journeyman Rahman Yusubov of Azerbaijan.

In the first 30 seconds, Page (25-5, 19 KOs) nearly made it a triumphant return as he wobbled Yusubov (9-9, 7 KOs) with the first left hook he landed, but due to a deterioration of skills caused by spending 11 years behind bars after being a party to multiple bank robberies, he was unable to land the follow-up barrage that would have ended the night early.

In the closing seconds of the opening round, Yusubov landed some harsh shots with Page on the ropes that rocked the comebacking Pittsburg, Calif. native badly. In the 2nd round, Yusubov would continue his assault, landing tremendous blows that had Page in bad shape from the first moments of the round. Page took shot after shot, somehow remaining upright before Yusubov finally put him down in a heap at the midway point of the round and the referee called the bout off.

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Former Titlist James Page Begins His Unlikely Ring Return

Former Titlist James Page Begins His Unlikely Ring Return
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
November 17, 2012

There is an old boxing adage that a fighter's power is usually the last thing to go. Before that, they lose their reflexes, stamina and often their punch resistance.

Saturday night, on a club show in Natomas, Calif. at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, 41-year old former welterweight titleholder James Page of nearby Pittsburg will attempt to prove that old adage correct, as he returns to the ring for the first time in over a decade after spending 11 years behind bars as he served time for multiple bank robberies in the Atlanta area at the early part of the millennium.

Page last saw action as a professional pugilist in 2001, when he was stopped by Andrew Lewis in seven rounds in an HBO Boxing After Dark bout where he was attempting to regain the WBA belt that he'd been stripped of the year before for failing to show up to the weigh-in for the initially scheduled Lewis bout.

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Karim Mayfield perseveres through ups and downs, makes HBO debut

Karim Mayfield perseveres through ups and downs, makes HBO debut
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
October 27, 2012

It has been a long road for San Francisco's Karim Mayfield, but Saturday night, at age 31, the junior welterweight contender makes his HBO debut in an intriguing matchup with fellow Californian Mauricio Herrera of Lake Elsinore in southern California.

The two were initially slated to meet in an ESPN2 televised bout back in mid-August, but injuries to both fighters derailed that fight from taking place in Mayfield's hometown. Herrera was hurting from a back injury, and before a replacement opponent could be found, Mayfield injured his hand, forcing a cancellation of the card.

Though Mayfield is undoubtedly bummed that this fight will take place on the East Coast rather than in front of fans that have been following him since he was a standout amateur, both Mayfield and Herrera will now earn considerably improved upon purses. This is the San Franciscan's second straight fight in New York, having impressively starched a then-unbeaten Raymond Serrano on ESPN2 back in May of this year.

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Seanie Monaghan shuts out Rayco Saunders

Seanie Monaghan shuts out Rayco Saunders
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
October 25, 2012

MANHATTAN, N.Y. -- Wednesday night at the Roseland Ballroom, DiBella Entertainment staged another one of its famed Broadway Boxing cards, headlined by popular undefeated light heavyweight club fighter Seanie Monaghan in his first real fight against battle-tested Rayco Saunders.

Monaghan (16-0, 10 KOs), of Long Island, had no trouble outworking Saunders, who fought from a defensive posture for all 10 rounds, failing to mix it up with his more willing opponent. Monaghan has been a staple of Broadway Boxing as of late, with this unanimous decision victory being his fourth win in his last five fights to take place at the Roseland Ballroom. The official scores were 99-91 twice and 98-92 in favor of Monaghan. Pittsburgh's Saunders (22-18-2, 9 KOs) picked up his fourth straight loss, all against fighters with one loss or less.

In his second fight since suffering a loss to veteran gatekeeper DeMarcus Corley, Brooklyn's Gabriel Bracero pounded out an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Toa Baja, Puerto Rico's Eric Cruz in a welterweight bout.

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Alan Sanchez stops Manuel Leyva in 10

Alan Sanchez stops Manuel Leyva in 10
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 26, 2012


FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- A day after a club show took place down the road in Sacramento, Golden Boy Promotions in association with Don Chargin Promotions and Paco Presents returned to the Fairfield Sports Complex Saturday as homegrown Alan Sanchez looked to continue forward progress as he took on veteran gatekeeper Manuel Leyva in a 10-round welterweight bout.

Sanchez took a few rounds to get untracked as the pace at the outset of the Sol Boxeo main event was not enthralling. Sanchez and Leyva showed each other too much respect early on, and Sanchez only started getting his offense really moving after Leyva bothered him midway through with some solid body work. Though Leyva may have only won a single round, the 6th being his best far and away, he forced Sanchez to open up a bit more, which lead to some exciting exchanges.

A Leyva from even a few years ago could have given Sanchez a scare on this night, but having been starched in four of his previous six, the29-year old from Downey, Calif. was well on the downside when this fight came together.

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Nonito Donaire gears up for Toshiaki Nishioka

Nonito Donaire gears up for Toshiaki Nishioka
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 24, 2012


Last Friday at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Nonito Donaire fired a pitch high but over the plate on Filipino Heritage Night prior to the hometown Athletics' game with the Cleveland Indians.

TQBR spoke to Donaire as he left the field on a variety of topics surrounding his compelling Oct. 13 HBO-televised scrap with longtime junior featherweight force Toshiaki Nishioka in Carson, Calif. at the Home Depot Center.

“It is very exciting for me,” Donaire said. “Like Nishioka said, it is not about the titles, it is not about anything, it is about fighting that guy. I believe that I have a lot to prove with Nishioka and we have great respect for each other. "

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Mia St. John avenges loss to Christy Martin, opportunity to pass the torch exists

Mia St. John avenges loss to Christy Martin, opportunity to pass the torch exists
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 17, 2012


Tuesday night in Friant, Calif., a lightly populated central California town, two of the most recognizable names in women's boxing squared off in a rematch ten years removed from an initial battle that took place on pay-per-view.

Now both in their mid 40s, Mia St. John exacted her revenge on Christy Martin in a non-televised clash that, according to the two combatants, signaled the end of their respective professional boxing careers. It also could perhaps signal the end of an era in which women's boxing was treated as a sideshow or an appetizer rather than legitimate competition.

Both Martin and St. John graced the covers of two major publications in their heyday. Martin, who was nicknamed “The Coal Miner's Daughter,” was on the cover of the April 15, 1996 edition of Sports Illustrated. St. John was featured on the cover of the November, 1999 cover of Playboy, showcasing a different set of assets.

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Golden Boy mostly "ghosts" for Guerrero's win

Golden Boy mostly "ghosts" for Guerrero's win
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 30, 2012


When boxing promotional juggernaut Golden Boy Promotions announced their most recent run of major fights, most experts thought if one of the house fighters was going to lose, Gilroy, Calif.'s Robert Guerrero felt the part.

Instead, Golden Boy lost Victor Ortiz to a broken jaw—as well the projected Saul Alvarez pay-per-view showdown that was tied into it. They lost Amir Khan to a figuratively broken chin as he suffered a shock loss to a mostly under-appreciated Danny Garcia.

Noticeably missing from this past fight week in San Jose were Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya, CEO Richard Schaefer, as well as main matchmaker Eric Gomez. Both are in London for the Olympics, no doubt working on softening up the American boxing team to turn pro with them, likely dangling the announced deal between CBS and Golden Boy to promote their pro debuts on network television.

It must be noted that Schaefer did in fact call Guerrero immediately following the press conference from London, where it was around 6 a.m.

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Robert Guerrero holds off Selcuk Aydin

Robert Guerrero holds off Selcuk Aydin
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 29, 2013


SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Though the Olympics officially kicked off in London Friday with the opening ceremony, Gilory, Calif.'s Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero earned gold for the United States Saturday on Showtime as he outpointed Turkey's Selcuk Aydin by unanimous decision in their 12 round welterweight bout in front of his home crowd at the HP Pavilion. It was Guerrero's first fight in over a year and he jumped two weights in handing his opponent his first career loss.

Both fighters came out at the opening bell looking to do damage but settled in after missing wildly with their first shots. Guerrero landed some nice jabs and countered Aydin's wilder stuff nicely. Aydin landed a few good jabs and moved Guerrero back with a few good power shots.

Aydin didn't do much in the second as Guerrero held whenever he tried getting inside. Guerrero boxed well from the outside and landed a few combinations and the two traded shots after the bell and then smiled at each other.

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Shawn Porter decisions Alfonso Gomez in bloody battle

Shawn Porter decisions Alfonso Gomez in bloody battle
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 29, 2012


SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Shawn Porter of Cleveland, Ohio had to work through some difficulties, including cuts near both eyes, in order to notch a unanimous decision Saturday on Showtime over former reality boxing star Alfonso Gomez of Guadalajara, Mexico in their 10 round welterweight bout.

The fight began with some great action in the 1st round as the two fighters got into some nice exchanges. Porter staggered Gomez a bit and did some damage with his opponent on the ropes, but Gomez came back to land some solid shots before the end of the round. Porter suffered a cut on the right eye.

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The Sins of Adrien Broner vs. Vicente Escobedo

The Sins of Adrien Broner vs. Vicente Escobedo
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 23, 2012


A snapshot into how social media has changed the fight game, and the ongoing saga of the big payday versus more likely longevity.

What was previously disregarded as just another mismatch engineered by adviser Al Haymon atop an HBO televised doubleheader morphed into case studies of a number of contentious topics in the sport by the time fight night rolled up around 8 p.m. PT Saturday evening.

Among them: a canvassing of many of the seven deadly sins that find their way into boxing, as well as the way in which rapid minute-by-minute reporting has perhaps affected boxing more than any other major sport. This, all over a fight that was supposed to take place in a junior lightweight division that many regarded as one of the shallowest stateside. But the result, in which Adrien Broner scored a technical knockout over Vicente Escobedo in five rounds, wasn't the story Saturday night.

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Mauricio Herrera injured, out of Karim Mayfield Aug. 17 fight

Mauricio Herrera injured, out of Karim Mayfield Aug. 17 fight
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 21, 2012


Junior welterweight Mauricio Herrera confirmed to TQBR Saturday that he has pulled out of the proposed Aug. 17 main event of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights against San Francisco's Karim Mayfield, citing a back injury. Herrera's move was originally reported by Boxingscene.com's Ernest Gabion earlier Saturday.

TQBR spoke with Herrera about the pull out and he had a few interesting things to say about it.

“Well the back injury was part of it,” Herrera told TQBR on the phone Saturday afternoon. “We hadn't really signed a contract yet, we weren't sure we were gonna take it yet. At the time they called me for Mayfield, it was kind of sketchy. The fight is in San Francisco, where he is from, and then I threw my back out too.”

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