12 ROUND WEEKEND RECAP

April 24, 2024

Simon Ruvalcaba

ROUND 1: NEVER COUNT ANYONE OUT

I learned my lesson April 9, 2011 when I covered the Marcos Maidana – Erik Morales fight. In all of my prefight write-ups I assumed that I was going to be witnessing the brutal ending to Morales’s great career. Morales, although he lost a decision, did turn back the clock with a vintage performance that was inspirational to watch and that since then has me, maybe too many times? Thinking that old veteran fighters have that 1 more good night left in them? That is the reason people going into the weekend may have been picking Broner to beat Vargas and Donaire to beat Frampton?

ROUND 2: LIVELY CROWDS, BOXING BUZZING, MMA CURRENTLY STALE?

It was noticeable and a much welcome site to see the passion and excitement of the crowds in New York, Ireland and England at the big shows of the weekend! Boxing excitement is buzzing at the moment and let’s hope it’s stock continues on the up-swing? A previous rising stock that has suddenly lost it’s mojo is that of MMA? Saturday evening I was at a restaurant with family and friends and MMA was being shown on one of the t.v. screens. People where asking if those are live fights and who is fighting? Wasn’t it that long ago when you knew there was a UFC event and who was fighting and there was several options of who’s house to go watch at? As I’ve said, MMA right now is in a transition as new stars are waiting to emerge into the public’s emotions? Until the recharge, look for boxing to continue to thrive alone under the combat sports tent?

ROUND 3: MEDIA LOVE

Shout out to all the many that continue to cover boxing and help keep boxing alive! I know in-house and even at times publicly, media members clash amongst each other. Hearing that Gervonta Davis and his people worked hard to be sure that Fighthype.com would not get an interview in the lead up to his fight Saturday took me back to when I was primarily with the site that broke me into the media side of boxing. I used to be one of the only ones doing video interviews, too many times I would start an interview with a fighter posing, thinking I was taking a picture before they realized I was filming. Today you’ll have 20-30 cameras at every interview and getting exclusives are harder to come by. I hope the fighters and those within the sport appreciate all media, no matter what you think of certain publications or writers. We all share a common love for the sport of boxing and that’s why we continue to cover it!

ROUND 4: GABRIEL FLORES KEEPS ROLLING ALONG

Weekend action kicked off in Vegas Friday night at Cox Pavilion on a Top Rank/Roy Jones Jr. show which featured several up and coming prospects and Gabriel Flores Jr. improving to 7 and 0 and going the distance for only the 2nd time as a professional. A big announcement is pending this coming week on Flores’s next fight..stay tuned!

ROUND 5: KHAN VS LO GRECO

Nothing to me is more embarrassing then an idea blowing up in your face. Phil Lo Greco’s pre-fight speeches at the media conferences built up the fight enough to spark a curiosity. Well, as in football, sometimes the defense blitzes on the first play and shuts down the game plan of the other team. Khan’s blitz worked and Lo Greco now richer and more popular returns to the states, but all that talking makes him look foolish. The wonderful thing about the sport is that he’ll be able to redeem himself on the comeback trail. Credit Promoter Eddie Hearn for picking the right opponent that was going to create the proper pre-fight buzz and kick off the fight deal with Khan, which is a road that ends at Khan versus Kell Brook. If you don’t know, in the U.K. Khan-Brook is like the U.S.’s version of Mayweather-Pacquiao, in terms of a fight so many have been wanting and yet have not received.

ROUND 6: HARDY, ARIAS, BOOKER AND WARREN

It was a succesful and strange weekend of undercard prospects in Brooklyn. Heather Hardy and George Arias got victories. As did former Champion Rau’shee Warren, whom I apologize for leaving out his bout in my weekend preview piece. The strange was Jr. Middleweight prospect Chordale Booker who’s opponent pulled out on fight day. Booker already has had an opponent back out at the weigh in (if I recall correctly) and was looking to go 10 and 0 in front of his Brooklyn crowd but was a late scratch when his opponent pulled out. There was a time when fighters fought…how times are changed, bring back the risk takers!

ROUND 7: JERMALL CHARLO

The Charlo train is still on full steam ahead after his crushing victory over Hugo Centeno. A Charlo victory is always a victory for both Charlo Brothers, so the stock rises for both. I am a Charlo fan inside the ring, don’t care for the out of the ring drama that the Charlo’s and entourage bring. From the rough side of Houston, they are scary in that if there’s ever to be real action it could come from this group. You just get a feel that they are mad at the world, but that anger and chip on their shoulder is a driving force and you can’t have one without the other in terms of, if you look for them to only perform in the ring and not be heard from outside of the ring. But give the Charlo’s credit, they back up all that they say to this point.

ROUND 8: GERVONTA ‘TANK’ DAVIS

Speaking of having a chip on your shoulder, Gervonta Davis showed that a motivated Davis with something to prove is no one to mess with! His destruction of Cuellar reminded so many of why he was the hot prospect in boxing. Although I think some are getting carried away suddenly thinking he may be ready for Lomachenko, he is capable of beating anybody in the division when he’s on and with take no shit Kevin Cunningham now training him, look for him to be on more often then not moving forward.

ROUND 9: BRONER VS VARGAS

It was the kind of fight that if you are a Vargas supporter, he did everything you would’ve said prefight that he needs to do to win and if you root for Broner he did everything you would’ve said prefight that he needs to do to win. One of the times when a draw is justified and why the potential for a draw in boxing should never be eliminated. These two may be made for each other and there should be a rematch, and who knows, maybe a trilogy the way these two as dance partners, ignite a the passion and excitement of the paying crowd!

ROUND 10: RYAN HATTON

Now switching attention to the card in Ireland, Britain’s light heavyweight prospect improved to 3 and 0. He is developing but looks like the goods in and out of the ring with his professional demeanor? Keep watch of this Frank Warren prospect!

ROUND 11: ZOLANI TETE

Shut out Omar Narvaez to defend his W.B.O. Bantamweight title. Tete, the latest star out of South Africa is on a roll now having won 11 in a row! Hope some unification fights can start to be made as the Bantamweight division is yet another that has a crop of talent that would be exciting to see against each other!

ROUND 12: CARL FRAMPTON VS NONITO DONAIRE

Perhaps it was more personal for me to keep this as the last thing for me to talk about from the weekend? Carl Frampton put on a great performance with his unanimous decision over Nonito Donaire. I was picking Nonito and my heart wanted to see one more good night in him. It was also maybe a bit holding on to my personal era in boxing, the class of 96′ and 2000 fighters are fading out and Nonito is one of the last ones still in the game. In a way, deep down, I was hoping that my youth continued with my pick of Donaire? I now feel that I’m getting old..lol. The post fight chatter seems to be more about how Nonito’s wife Rachel was in command of her husband’s corner and wonder about what Bones Adams’s role really is when it comes to Donaire?

I have a long going friendship with Nonito and the Donaire family stretching out before any fame and fortune was in the picture. If this ends up being Donaire’s swan song, I just want to wish him well in life and thank him for many great memories through his career in the ring, and the pleasure of what I have considered a good friendship. The fact that his wife was in so much control is the way of their relationship and bond. As many of you know, there may not be agreement with your relationships when it comes to the public opinion, but finding yourself in any relation, there is a connection that only 2 people truly know. If this really ends up being Nonito’s final fight, it will be a family thing, which is what lies ahead beyond boxing. Nonito committed for so long to boxing and his fans, let’s let him and Rachel commit fully to their family without the criticism. Live and let live, but Thank you again Nonito for a great career!

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