Smith finally on the right side of boxing politics

Smith finally on the right side of boxing politics
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
February 23, 2013

My first contribution to RingTV.com.


At 34 years of age, longtime contender and sometime gatekeeper Ishe Smith has finally found himself on the right side of boxing politics.

For years, Smith was often cast as a B-side in his most meaningful fights, meaning the deck was often stacked against him. However, in his 14th year as a professional fighter, the Las Vegas native has an opportunity to earn a major world title as he meets IBF junior middleweight beltholder Cornelius Bundrage in the main event of a Showtime Championship Boxing telecast from Detroit that was originally headlined by Devon Alexander against Kell Brook. That fight was postponed when Alexander suffered an injury.

For Smith, Saturday marks an opportunity to make history. Despite the Sweet Science's rich connection to the city of Las Vegas, no homegrown talent has ever held any sort of major title, an interesting anomaly.

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Rousey an opportunity to draw crossover appeal for UFC

Rousey an opportunity to draw crossover appeal for UFC
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
February 21, 2013

Heading into Saturday night, Ronda Rousey will have a lot heavier things on her shoulders than just the UFC women's bantamweight championship she is set to defend against Liz Carmouche in the main event of UFC 157 at Anaheim, Calif.'s Honda Center.

Rousey will make history as the first female to fight under the UFC banner after a successful run as Strikeforce women's champion before the company folded and was purchased by Dana White and the UFC last year.

James Page's Battle to Turn Back the Clock

In the February 2013 edition of British boxing publication Boxing Monthly, I have a four-page spread on the unlikely comeback of former WBA welterweight titlist James Page, who returned to the ring in November 2012 after a 10.5 year jail sentence stemming from multiple bank robberies. In fact, Page's picture makes it on the front cover in the upper right corner. Though Page's comeback didn't go as planned, there was still a worthwhile story behind the ring return.

I was very proud of this piece. Unfortunately, the photographer I used pictures from was completely unprofessional and refused to provide me with shots of Page getting worked over by his opponent in that comeback fight, telling me "Page is her homie". This despite the fact I lined her up to get paid for the photos.

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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A banner year for NorCal boxing in 2012

A banner year for NorCal boxing in 2012
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
January 3, 2013

After being dormant for many years, the boxing scene in Northern California turned the heat up in 2012 as over 20 different shows took place in the region with the area's biggest stars all scoring signature wins that could setup major fights as we begin a new calendar.

Oakland's Andre Ward only fought once in 2011, but he made the most of it, scoring a stoppage of light heavyweight king Chad Dawson at the Oracle Arena in early September in his first appearance as an HBO headliner. The bout was for Ward's bevy of titles at 168 pounds with Dawson moving down, and Ward dropped Dawson twice early in the bout before finishing him in the 10th.

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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Marquez halts Pacquiao in instant classic

Marquez halts Pacquiao in instant classic
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
December 10, 2012

LAS VEGAS--Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the unbelievable run of future boxing Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao came to a halt, as a devastating right hand from the Filipino Congressman's greatest rival, Juan Manuel Marquez, knocked him unconscious. The end came with one second left in the 6th round and was a shocking end considering the first three fights between the two went the distance.

The fight far exceeded the buzz that was generated beforehand--many boxing scribes had figured the bout would go much like the third one had--a tactical affair with a bit of action sprinkled throughout. Though both fighters were saying before the fight they were gunning for knockouts, many chalked that up to the kind of talk necessary to sell the pay-per-view purchasing public.

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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Marquez hoping fourth time the charm against Pacquiao

Marquez hoping fourth time the charm against Pacquiao

Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
December 6, 2012

LAS VEGAS--The fourth time is the charm.

That is the hope of Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez at least, who at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday meets fellow future Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao for the fourth time in the last eight years, looking to score his first official victory over the Filipino icon during their rivalry.

Many would argue that Marquez has won at least 24 of the 36 rounds the two fighters have fought in their three fights. However, Pacquiao holds the edge in having put Marquez on the canvas four times, including three times in the opening round of their first fight back in May 2004.

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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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.