Ten Best Things in Boxing in 2013

Ten Best Things in Boxing in 2013
Mark E. Ortega
January 3, 2013

 At the end of last year, I pessimistically counted down the list of ten of the worst things that happened in boxing during the calendar year. Here I take a more positive look at the sport and examine things that really worked out greatly for the sweet science.

2013 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year - Gennady Golovkin

Breakthrough Fighter of 2013: Gennady Golovkin

Mark E. Ortega
December 25, 2013

A number of fighters enjoyed years in 2013 that may later be traced back to the beginning of their legacies. Here's who I deemed the breakthrough fighters of the year.

Q&A: Sturm rooting for Geale (but not because he's a fan)

Q&A: Sturm rooting for Geale (but not because he's a fan)
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
August 14, 2013


An intriguing middleweight title fight will take place on Saturday night in Atlantic City when the incumbent Daniel Geale faces former title challenger Darren Barker on HBO.

There’s one observer who is particularly interested in the result, that being former middleweight titlist Felix Sturm, of Germany. Sturm lost his alphabet trinket to Geale in a unification fight and then lost a decision to Sam Soliman, which was later ruled a no-contest when Soliman tested positive for PEDs.

RingTV contributing writer Mark E. Ortega caught up with Sturm prior to this weekend’s showdown to discuss his recent victory and future plans, as well as his thoughts on Geale-Barker and Gennady Golovkin. (Translated by Wolfgang Schiffbauer.)

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Did HBO's 'Champions Dinner' snub Rigondeaux?

Did HBO's 'Champions Dinner' snub Rigondeaux?
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
August 8, 2013


This past weekend in Los Angeles, HBO Sports had a private dinner that they called the "Dinner of Champions."

Fighters in attendance were Adonis Stevenson, Ruslan Provodnikov, Mike Alvarado, Gennady Golovkin, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Nonito Donaire, Juan Manuel Marquez, Terence Crawford, and Mikey Garcia, based on a picture tweeted by Provodnikov.

When reached by e-mail for a list of those in attendance, HBO informed RingTV.com that it was a private dinner and that the guest list was not available.

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Sturm stops Radosevic in fourth

Sturm stops Radosevic in fourth
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 6, 2013


Former WBA middleweight titleholder Felix Sturm found it hard to find the win column starting with the loss of the alphabet trinket to Daniel Geale last September.

Sturm lost an IBF eliminator against veteran Sam Soliman in February, though the bout was later overturned to a no contest when Soliman tested positive for a performance enhancing substance.

Still, the struggles with Soliman indicated that Sturm was perhaps nearing the end of his career. Looking to prove he had more to offer, Sturm met unbeaten Predrag Radosevic in an eliminator for the IBF’s No. 2 spot in his native Germany.

Sturm (38-3-2, 17 knockouts) turned in a quality performance against the unheralded Montenegro native, dropping Radosevic three times with body shots before the corner threw in the towel in the fourth round.

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Mora outpoints Proksa in return on FNF

Mora outpoints Proksa in return on FNF
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
June 28, 2013


Sergio Mora said he knew he had to deliver a more crowd pleasing style in order to get back in the mix after returning to the ring for the first time in nearly ten months.

Friday night, Mora was a bit more exciting than in previous bouts, but more importantly, he was more effective, as he outpointed Grzegorz Proksa over 10 rounds in ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights main event in Jacksonville, Fla.

Mora was coming off a second loss to Brian Vera last August, his lone fight in 2012, and was a slight underdog heading in. Sporting a newly grizzled look, a bearded Mora showed he wasn't just a different fighter in appearance, as he outclassed Proksa for much of the duration of their middleweight bout.

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Grzegorz Proksa in Talks to Fight Gennady Golovkin

Grzegorz Proksa in Talks to Fight Gennady Golovkin
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 12, 2012


When the news broke that Dmitry Pirog would be unable to fight Gennady Golovkin on an Aug. 25 edition of HBO's Boxing After Dark, hardcore boxing fans felt it was a devastating blow as that bout guaranteed action and intrigue.

Fans can hold out hope that Golovkin will indeed be facing a step-up in competition as Matchroom Sport's Eddie Hearn has informed TQBR that they are in discussions to make a fight between Golovkin and Grzegorz Proksa, whose promotional rights Matchroom owns. Proksa is coming off an 8th round technical knockout victory over Kerry Hope which took place just last weekend, avenging a questionable majority decision loss that took place in March, Proksa's only blemish so far in 29 professional contests.

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Top Ten from the outer realm

Top Ten from the Outer Realm

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

June 20, 2011

I've always been one to criticize pound-for-pound lists, as they are as egregious as they are subjective. Lists of any sort are, matter of fact. But here I am putting together a Top Ten of my own, one that features a list of ten pugilists, mostly from outside the United States that have yet to appear on HBO or Showtime television in any format. These are ten fighters I feel that should be taken a close look at by both networks, if not just for tomorrow but for beyond.