Having Doubts about Canelo Alvarez

By Gabreal Gallegos

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The youngest EVER to win the Light Middleweight belt.

It just doesn’t sound right saying that sentence. Let’s be clear about one thing. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is a good boxer, however, is he a deserving champion that won the belt by beating the best in his weight division. No.

His promoters will have you believe that while he is a good boxer on the cusp of being a great if not legendary champion, he still needs work…and by work what his promoters are really saying is, he needs more fights under his belt. The statement is not a shock nor is it typically surprising a fighter that is only 21 years old to be still finding his rhythm, power, mental game and many other attributes a professional boxer needs to stay competitive. This is especially true for a young up and coming fighter such as Canelo. However, Alvarez has been a pro since 15 and now he is the WBC Light Middleweight Champion of the world. Therefore, the words such as time, progress, develop should have been established well before Alvarez won a title. This is not the case and now, Alvarez and Goldenboy have to decide how they are going to move forward with his career.

On September 17th Canelo will face reality TV contestant on The Contender season 1 member Alfonso Gomez. Gomez is not a bad choice; it’s a safe choice with a name. Gomez is not a deserving contender for the Light Middleweight belt. So, why is Gomez fighting for a title in less than 3 weeks? It’s because Alvarez is not ready for any of the big names that can not only beat him but could ruin his very promising career. It’s because Alvarez is still a work in progress, he has good power, nice range and a decent chin- but his defense, footwork, speed and power still need some work. Yes, he has some power but not nearly the power he needs to stay competitive at 154lb or 160lb if he ever decides to move up in weight.

His boxing tool chest needs to get more complete and until he is able to face real competition fans will never know if he has the ability to beat the likes of Cotto, Margarito or Paul Williams. This is the issue with Canelo, he is getting a pass and being allowed to fight the Gomez’s, Matthew Hatton’s and over the hill Baldomir’s in the boxing game today; instead of facing the best fighters the Light Middleweight class has to offer. This is a safe move by Goldenboy as it seems Goldenboy had a bit of a struggle of matching some of their fighters up with tougher competition then they should have been facing early in their career only to see them lose and never quit live up to the potential Goldenboy had hoped. (anyone remember Vicente Escobedo)

In the end Alvarez and Goldenboy have made their plan clear-set Canelo up with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr route. Play it safe, but talk Canelo up as if he is one fight away from fighting the toughest guys in his division only keep him away from any potential threat for at least another year or so. It’s not a plan that you can blame a team that is aware their prize fighter is not ready for a real test. Alvarez already has the belt all they have to do now is match make Alvarez with boxers that have a name but not much more. No speed, no power and definitely no one that can be a threat, This will work and I for one wouldn’t be surprised if they attempt to match Bernard Hopkins 20 win record…Only kidding, but..You never know.

And then…

Canelo, is a huge star in the making, he just needs to be matched correctly for a while, but the issue I have with that is he is a champion. Champions fight the best fighters out there…Well at least they used to. Today fighters are all about the business. The promoters make fans think that Clottey, Gomez, and Mosley are the best possible fights that can be made. Roy Jones Jr was the best at making bullshit fights seem relevant and now we will see how Goldenboy and company make out with Canelo’s and his career.

Low blows and cancellations seem to be the theme of August. Let’s hope that September brings what fans have been waiting for. Andre Berto is back in the ring, an exciting fight between Gamboa and DeLeon, Mayweather Ortiz fight, add that with HBO 24/7, College and NFL football season getting under way and the next 3 weeks should be pretty entertaining.

The now defunct Teamsters Gym. Where Frankie, Tony and Bobby Baltazar started their boxing careers in 1964.

Boxing is build on a foundation of sepia tone memories passed on from generation to generation and the Teamsters gym produce plenty.

Frank Baltazar, and old rivals, Bobby Chacon and Danny "Little Red" Lopez at the 2010 California Hall of Fame Banquet.

Frankie Baltazar's Last Fight

By Frank Kiki Baltazar

October 24, 1991: Frankie is to fight Charlie “Mad Dog” Young for Don Fraser at the Marriott Hotel at Irvine, Ca. We arrived early for the same fight day Weight-in. Contract weight was 143 give or take. Frankie was right on the money at 143. Mad Dog came in 148, five over the contract agreement. The CSAC only allows a fighter to lose two pounds on the day of the fight, so that meant Mad Dog could only come in at 146, still three pounds over. Don Fraser is ready to have a heart attack as he is about to lose his main event. Don asked me if we would fight Mad Dog at ‘46, I said yes,” but that we get 10 % of Mad Dog purse”, the CSAC inspector jumped at that and said “no way are you getting 10 % of Young’s purse”, I told the inspector that if the fight was to go on we were getting 10% of Young’s purse and that if he read his rule book he would find out that we could get it, he called out to his flunky to get him the rule book, he read the rule book and he say “yes you can get 10 % and the CSAC get another 10 %!”. Poor Mad Dog just lost 20 % of his purse. After the inspector and Don Fraser explain things to him, he agree to lose two pounds, don’t think he understood about the 20%.

Mad dog came to the fight without a corner, so he asked Hall Of fame Corner Man Chuck Bodak and Jerry Boyed if they would work his corner, that he would pay them he said. Jerry Boyd in 2004 had a book published “Rope Burns” under the pen name F.X. Toole. The Oscar winning movie “Million Dollar Baby” was made from that book.

Two or three hours later Mad Dog made 146, so the fight is on. Later on in afternoon, I was sitting with Pat Russell who was to be the main event referee at the hotel's coffee shop; as we were sitting there Mad Dog came over to our table to talk trash, about how he was going knock Frankie out. I told him that that was okay with me. That either way I would walk out with the winner, he asked me “whatcha ya mean, whatcha ya mean?”; I told him; you and Frankie are my fighters, he tells me “I am not your fighter”. I than told him that for tonight’s fight I owned 10 % of him, Pat Russell told him that that was true; he then walked away muttering.

The fight went all Frankie’s way. He stopped Mad Dog in the ninth round. After the fight in the dressing room I told Frankie that we needed to talk about his boxing career and where he was going from here, well the rest is history.

Afterward I was in the hotel bar having a drink with some friends and fans of Frankie when Chuck Bodak and Jerry Boyd came up to me and asked me if I have seen Mad Dog, I said no, what happened I asked them “The S-B didn’t pay us”..... The Mad Dog was long gone…

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Tommy Campbell, May. 16, 1950

At the Olympic Auditorium at Los Angeles, Art "Golden Boy" Aragon scored a three-round knockout over Tommy Campbell after a questionable second round which saw Aragon decked for a seven count. Midway in the second round Campbell caught Aragon flush on the jaw with a right cross to the chin which sent Aragon careening through the ropes and onto the apron of the ring. Referee Reggie Gilmore waved Campbell to a neutral corner and began counting over Aragon, the 1 to 5 favorite. Golden Boy stood up on wobbly legs, but Campbell made no move to step into action and as Aragon moved across the ring they fell into a clinch without throwing a punch. At the end of the round the referee went to Campbell's corner and told him to get in there and fight or his license would be taken away. Campbell made an effort in the third, but Aragon came out like a tiger and a vicious left hook followed by a powerful right cross dropped Campbell for a nine count. As he arose Aragon rushed him and with a crushing right dropped him for the full count. An investigation the day following the fight saw both fighters cleared on all counts but Campbell's California license was taken away because he has failing sight in one eye. A crowd of 7,500 was on hand, contributing a gross of $16,558.

IBF orders Agbeko-Mares rematch

from Fight News

IBF President Daryl Peoples and IBF Championships Chairman Lindsey Tucker completed their review of the IBF Optional Bantamweight Championship bout that took place on August 13, 2011 in Las Vegas, NV, between Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares. Peoples and Tucker observed several low blow fouls committed by Abner Mares. While the referee, Russell Mora, issued numerous warnings for low blows during the course of the bout, he neglected to deduct points for these fouls. With 1:03 left in round eleven, Joseph Agbeko was hit with a low blow foul that forced him to the canvas. Mr. Mora determined that the blow landed by Mares was legal and began to count indicating that a knockdown had occurred.

Based upon their review of the bout, it has been determined by the IBF that inappropriate conduct by the referee affected the outcome of the fight. In accordance with IBF/USBA Rule 3.D., the IBF is ordering a rematch between Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares for the IBF Bantamweight title which must be held within the next 120 days or by December 14, 2011.

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Mario Trigo, May. 8, 1951

In defeating Mario Trigo at Los Angeles Olympic, Art Aragon won the California lightweight title and the dubious distinction of being the foremost contender (California version) for world title. And some of the local scribes stated that he looked the part. It was an action scrap and although not one-sided, Trigo was the recipient of much punisment. Mario was not as elusive as usual, in fact, was an easy target, but, due to poor timing, Aragon missed half his punches. Aragon, set on a kayo victory, stalked Trigo continually and had his jinx opponent hurt and wobbly several times, but couldn't put over the finisher. Trigo appeared about to cave in numerous times, but he recuperates quickly, and would always come back with a counter-attack. Mario was decked once, a short hook dropping him for a 1-count in the second.

Trigo outslugged the tired Aragon in the 8th, and came out fast in the 9th, forcing Art to give ground, but shortly after was knocked into the ropes from a left hook to the jaw. Seeing his foe was hurt, Aragon tore in with a vengeance, raining lefts and rights to Mario's head. Trigo was being badly pounded but appeared in no worst shape then on several previous occasions and the referee's action in halting the fight at this point brought forth considerable booing. Aragon looked drawn and pasty at 134 1/2, Trigo came in at 135.

When Boxers were expected to "Step Up". . .

By Rick Farris

If Floyd & Pac came up in L.A. when Aileen Eaton & George Parnassus controlled our big time boxing, they'd have fought long ago.
You cash in on the event while it is hot, when it's wanted. A simple injury to either boxer eliminates a nine figure revenue today.
Back in the day in L.A. there was no waiting to settle a grudge match, cross town rivalry, or whatever the interest in a competitive match.
No boys "protected" in L.A. rings back then, not like what you see today. We had guys that got better breaks, but they fought competitive opponents.
When Keeny Teran and Gil Cadilli were the hottest homegrown talents, the two ELA hot shots were matched.

When Mando Ramos and Frankie Crawford needed to fight, they did. Twice.
When Quarry and Orbillo was a hot ticket, they got it on. Winning records were put in jeopardy, not like today.
And what about Kelly Pavlik? It's time to punch his time card and dismiss him. Disgrassa!

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Morris Leviege April. 21, 1955

Art Aragon the Golden Boy, who attracted over $9000,000 into the till of promoter Cal Eaton in his last 26 fights, returned to a California ring after an absence of ten months to score a 7-round knockout over Morris Leviege, Eureka, at the Olympic Auditorium. Aragon somewhat slow and rusty after his long lay-off, flashed his old-time form in the 7th, after being nailed by some hard punches. He flamed into action with a sharp left hook which set Leviege back on his heels, then followed up with a blistering barrage for which he is famed. Referee Lou Grossman, sensing the helplessness of Leviege, halted hostilities after 1 :25 of the 7th. Aragon weighed 146 1/2; Leviege 140.

Leviege is the lad who had Cisco Andrade on the canvas last November, up in San Jose, though Cisco won the duke. In his last appearence in Los Angeles. Aragon drew a gate of $130, 000 with Vince Martinez at Hollywood Ball Park, to establish a California record for a non-title fight. Despite a driving rain, a crowd of 4,038 cash customers paid a gross $6,388 to see the rukus. As one scribe put it; "only with Aragon could this happen". This fight was not televised.

Enrique Bolanos/Manny Madrid, May. 25, 1951

A low blow landed by Manny Madrid, 138, was all that saved Enrique Bolanos, 136, from suffering his first defeat in the Hollywood Stadium ring. Madrid was penalized one point for the foul, which made their total points add up even at the end of the bout-and the contest was declared a draw. Madrid had led in 5 of the first 7 rounds, but faded in the stretch, possibly due, in part, to a psychological effect, as Bolanos moved out in front immediately after being given a rest to recuperate from the low blow. When the bout resumed in the 7th. Bolanos fought with renewed vigor, while Madrid slowed up and became wild in his punching, Enrique won the final three rounds, mostly with an effective left hook to the body. Although Bolanos is the puncher of the two, it was Madrid who came closest to scoring a knockdown, having Enrique in trouble late in the 6th.

Keeny Teran/Pappy Gault, April. 9, 1955

Keeny Teran, 113, one of the most controversial figures in California ring history, was declared the winner by TKO, in round two, over Pappy Gault, 118, former American bantam champ, at Hollywood Legion Stadium. There was a storm of protest from many ringsiders who felt that referee Tommy Hart had been over-hasty in the stoppage of hostilities. Gault had not been floored. He was staggered by a right to the chin, but seemed to be possession of all his faculties when the referee stopped it.

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon 1954

Much of the sheen of the "Golden Boy," Art Aragon, has worn off in recent years because of bad showings he's made and because of the defeats he's suffered, but the cocky welterweight still must be considered a top man in his class. Art, for example, has been decisively whipped when he's tackled the champions or top contenders. Jimmy Carter gave Aragon his worst trouncing in 1951 when Art tried to win the lightweight crown. Earlier Carter had lost to Aragon in a non-title match. Billy Graham decisioned Art early to halt a six-match victory string. And while Aragon bested Chuck Davey in Los Angeles, the verdict was questionable and unpopular. But Art's over-all record is good.

Unpopularity is nonthing new to Aragon, who works out of Los Angeles. His sneering remarks about other fighters, his cafe brawls, his showy behavior has long had press and public alike against him. Nevertheless, arrogant Art is a torrid box-office attraction on the West Coast. From 1950 through 1953, for example, his 23 bouts drew over $620,000 in gate revenue. The fans flock to the Stadium to see the brash, 26-year-old welterweight get his just deserts. He's always booed upon entering the ring wearing a gold robe. Once Aragon retaliated by thumbing his nose at the crowd.

The controversial, "colorful" Aragon hails from the sunbaked state of New Mexico. He turned professional at Los Angeles in 1944, after having worked as a laborer in a dairy plant. A speedy boxer with concealed dynamite in both hands, he ran up a phenomenal string of kayoes although his opposition at first was limited solely to West Coast local talent. His initail big win was over Enrique Bolanos and he's had good wins over Johnny Gonsalves and Lauro Salas. Art is managed by patient Jimmy Roach who has made Aragon rich beyond his dreams. Most boxing insiders feel Aragon hasn't a chance to cop welterweight honors unless he trains seriously and cuts out his screwball tactics. Meanwhile, though, they're paying off.

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon On Oscar De La Hoya,

"He can use the nickname, good fighter," " Reminds me a little of me. Glad we came in different eras, wouldn't have been room for both of us."

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon, November. 1949

Art Aragon, billed as The Golden Boy, is taking the title quite seriously. He wears a gold colored robe and drives a gold colored Cadillac..

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Joey Abasta Jan. 6, 1958

Arthur Anthony Aragon, erstwhile Golden Boy, scored a 6th round TKO over Joey Abasta, Aragon, 154, Abasta, 146. A near-capacity crowd of 2500 saw the bout in Tucson Arizona. It was Art's second scrap since his license was issued by the State Athletic Commission, following the court reversal of the 1 to 5 year sentence imposed on him last year on the charge of fixing a fight. In his first scrap, he whipped Woody Winslow in San Diego before a near-capacity crowd of 3400. that was in December. Evidently the Golden Boy has not lost his box-office appeal..

Ramon Tiscareno/Alvaro Guttierez April. 27 1957

His long, enforced vacation evidently didn't hurt Ramon Tiscareno, 146 for he outslugged newly -arrived Alvaro Guttierez of Mexico, 146 at Hollywood Legion Stadium to win by TKO in the 6th. Guttierez' right eye was cut, and there seemed to be an assortment of cuts inside his mouth. He was spouting blood like a geyser.

Baby Arizmendi/Irish Jackie Carter August. 22, 1939

Baby Arizmendi turned "killer" in his clash with Irish Jackie Carter at the Olympic Auditorium, knocking the Washington D.C. kid stiff in the first round. Although the first hard right that floored Carter for nine really spelled his doom. Arizmendi had to drop the baby-faced Irishman four times to keep him down for the count. Arizmendi weighed 137 1/2, Carter 136.

'GOLDEN BOY' ART ARAGON QUITS BOXING

Los Angeles, Jan 23 1960

Art Aragon "Golden Boy" of boxing, has called it quits after a 16 year career in which he received more than a million dollers in purses. The 32 year old native of New Mexico reached his decision here thursday night after suffering a ninth round technical knockout by Alvaro Gutierrez. "I'm glad I didn't win" Aragon said after the defeat. "If I had won I would have fought again and I'd wind up getting hurt. I'm glad it's over."