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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Page comeback derailed

Page comeback derailed

Mark E. Ortega

Martinez News-Gazette

November 19, 2012


NATOMAS, Calif.--Last Saturday night, former WBA welterweight champion James Page did the improbable, returning to the ring for the first time following a 10-and-a-half year prison sentence, fighting rugged journeyman Rahman Yusubov in the six-round main event at the Four Points by Sheraton in Natomas, Calif. Unfortunately for Page and his team, the result wasn't what they were hoping for.

Page had been out of jail since the early part of the year, training at famed King's Gym in Oakland with a number of quality professional fighters, including middleweight prospect Omar Henry and junior middleweight contender Alfredo Angulo. He had worked himself down to 153 pounds for the fight, just one weight class heavier than where he contested most of his bouts in his prime in the late '90s.

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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Mares stakes claim to Donaire, tops Moreno

Mares stakes claim to Donaire, tops Moreno
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
November 13, 2012

LOS ANGELES--Saturday night at Los Angeles' famed Staples Center, Abner Mares added another impressive name to his resume as he outpointed Panamanian slickster Anselmo Moreno over twelve rounds in their super bantamweight scrap.

The victory helps make a case for Mares being the most likely opponent to give San Leandro's Nonito Donaire his most difficult fight to date. Though Mares is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Donaire by Top Rank, some are optimistic the fight can now be made.

San Francisco's Mayfield makes statement in HBO debut

San Francisco's Mayfield makes statement in HBO debut
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
October 29, 2013

VERONA, N.Y.—Last Saturday night, San Francisco junior welterweight Karim Mayfield took the biggest step in his career as he outpointed the durable Mauricio Herrera in their HBO televised ten-round attraction at the Turning Stone Casino & Resort in upstate New York. For Mayfield, it was his long-awaited debut on HBO.

Mayfield, 31, was able to outmuscle Herrera for most of the bout, utilizing his strength to back his opponent into the ropes and land vicious overhand rights almost at will. Mayfield was often criticized early in his career for falling in love with his overhand right but was able to work in some effective left hooks and uppercuts on the inside, landing more in combination than he has in previous bouts.

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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Faded legend Morales dealt KO by Garcia

Faded legend Morales dealt KO by Garcia
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
October 22, 2013

BROOKLYN--Though they went twelve tough rounds the first time, Philadelphia's Danny Garcia (25-0, 16 KOs) whitewashed living legend and future Hall of Famer Erik Morales (52-9, 36 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico, stopping him with a single counter left hook in the 4th round of their junior welterweight contest. Both fighters were looking to land left hooks but the younger, quicker handed Garcia found the mark with a brutal left hook that turned Morales around like a spinning top in a Knockout of the Year candidate. Morales was badly hurt and one of his cornermen jumped into the ring, forcing referee Benjy Esteves Jr. to halt the bout at the 1:23 mark.

NorCal's Donaire eager to add to résumé

NorCal's Donaire eager to add to résumé

Mark E. Ortega

Martinez News-Gazette

October 18, 2013

CARSON, Calif.--Saturday night at the Home Depot Center, San Leandro's Nonito Donaire added another respectable name to his résumé as he stopped the durable Toshiaki Nishioka of Tokyo, Japan in the 9th round of their HBO televised junior featherweight title fight in front of more than 7,500 fans.

Donaire became the recognized #1 fighter in the division with the victory, though many boxing fans are now hopeful he meets fellow Top Rank promoted fighter Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba at some point in the near future. Signs point towards Donaire instead fighting the well-traveled Mexican Jorge Arce, who is years past his best, but would no doubt make it a fight for as long as it lasts.

Former Pittsburg boxing champion tries to turn Page

Former Pittsburg boxing champion tries to turn Page

Mark E. Ortega

Martinez News-Gazette

October 18, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif.—Adoring the walls of King's Gym on 35^th St. in Oakland are legions of fight posters and photographs that likely number in the thousands.

Among the plethora of worn and torn snapshots of history are a handful from the glory days of Pittsburg's James Page, the one-time WBA welterweight champion who held the crown briefly from 1998-1999.

Now, more than a dozen years since he first defeated Andrey Pestryaev of Russia in two rounds for the vacant title, Page has returned to the famed East Bay boxing gym as he readies himself to climb back into the ring for the first time since losing in his attempt to regain his crown against Andrew Lewis in 2001.

NorCal Boxing Report: Aug. 29

NorCal Boxing Report: Aug. 29
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 29, 2012

Some notes compiled on different things around the Northern California boxing scene, including Richard Hargraves, potential Jorge Linares fight in the area, Andre Ward-Chad Dawson undercard.

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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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Otis Griffin gets back in win column in Sacramento

Otis Griffin gets back in win column in Sacramento
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 25, 2012


SACRAMENTO -- Friday night in Sacramento at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Sacramento favorite and former winner of the boxing reality show “The Next Great Champ” Otis Griffin (24-10-2, 10 KOs) found the win column again as he stopped the tough but inexperienced Adam Collins (11-8, 8 KOs) of Ironton, Ohio. The end came in the 2nd round of their scheduled 10 round over the limit light heavyweight bout and it was Griffin's first fight in Sacramento in nearly three years.

The fight was closely contested in the opening round until a shot near the top of Collins' head put him down in the final seconds of the opening round. Collins was not recovered from that blow as he kept pointing to the back of his head before getting dropped again early in the 2nd. Collins looked as though he rebounded well from the knockdown but Griffin finished him later in the round with a left hook, as referee Dan Stell called the fight. Official time of the stoppage was 1:22 of round 2.

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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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