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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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 hopes to keep Golden Boy applecart from being overturned

Robert Guerrero hopes to keep Golden Boy applecart from being overturned
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 27, 2012


It has been more than a year and a half since a major fight took place in northern California. The region is home to arguably three of the sport's best fighters in the world, with Oakland's Andre Ward, San Leandro's Nonito Donaire and Gilroy's Robert Guerrero all winning their assortment of important bouts over their careers.

Ward returns to Oakland on Sept. 8 after fighting in southern California and Atlantic City in his last two contests. Donaire has not fought once in northern California since bursting on the scene following a devastating KO of Vic Darchinyan five years ago. Guerrero hasn't fought in the area since 2009.

The three fighters have a good rapport with each other and always seem to be trying to one-up each other with each fight. Guerrero has a chance to sway the locals in his favor with a victory over Selcuk Aydin in San Jose on Saturday, televised by Showtime.

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Canned: Timothy Bradley in 2010

Canned: Timothy Bradley in 2010
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 18, 2012


Back in 2010, myself as well as Brent Alderson and Otis Griffin hosted an almost every Tuesday Unternet boxing radio show of which there are now many. On the March 9 edition, we had Timothy Bradley as a guest and a yet to appear on HBO version of the fighter showed the personality that existed all along before it was blasted to the masses via HBO's 24/7. Bradley had a number of interesting things to offer his opinion on, including early thoughts on the Pacquiao-Bradley drug testing drama.

Mark Ortega: What are your feelings on Alexander-Urango being for the WBC title that they made you vacate and it being a unification fight? 

Tim Bradley: No feelings whatsoever man. These guys are gonna do whatever they want to do. I still got my WBC title over here. I don't have any quarrels with anyone man. Give me an opportunity to fight for it back. This is the guy they wanted me to face. I didn't think he was worthy at the time, and now he is making noise in the division. Let's make it happen. Boxing is a business as well, man. It's not just to get in there to fight someone, if it don't make dollars it don't make sense. That is the only way I will fight him, if it makes sense to me money wise. Other than that I feel he is the #2 fighter in the division behind myself and I would love to get it on with Devon Alexander.

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Taking Care of Business

In the June 2012 issue of British boxing publication Boxing Monthly, I had a four-page spread on Timothy Bradley ahead of his challenge of Manny Pacquiao. I interviewed Bradley for the piece, and we discussed a number of topics. My second BM spread.

July 2011 Monthly Wrapup

July Monthly Wrapup

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

August 1, 2011

On the first day of each month at Leave it in the Ring, lead writer Mark Ortega will be doing a summing-up of the previous month's action for those that may have missed out on some of it, or just want to relive some of it.

Fighter of the Month – Amir Khan

Though he beat a fighter in Zab Judah who had never won against a marquee name in his entire career [despite getting numerous opportunities], Khan instantly jumped to the top of the Ring Magazine 140 pound rankings with his fifth-round stoppage of Zab. Khan likely put himself in the running for a Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight should Floyd beat Victor Ortiz like he is supposed to this September.

Morales a source of dependency for boxing

Morales provides boxing a source of dependency

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

April 12, 2011

It was a fight that, once over, rendered the official verdict meaningless if you were fortunate enough to catch the action and see it for what it was. Sure, ten years down the line, someone who may not know any better might check out Boxrec, see “Marcos Maidana MD12 Erik Morales,” and think nothing of it, but to those lucky enough to count themselves as one of the more than 7,000 in attendance or one of the few hundred thousand that tuned in live, it was an epic night in the storied career of one of boxing's great warriors.

It's entirely possible that Marcos Maidana may never reach the elite level of the sport, but that won't diminish what Morales was able to do against him at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas this past weekend.