HOPKINS IS NO GINGER ROGERS
Las Vegas, NV-When the great Fred Astaire danced his best, a lot of the credit went to Ginger Rogers. Why? Because, it takes two to dance, and in this instance it took two to fight. Unfortunately for Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, refused to dance with him. Thus, at the end of 12 anything but exciting rounds, youth prevailed, as Taylor won with unanimous scores of 115-113, thrice! Taylor, improves to 25-0. Hopkins, is now 46-4-1, and hopefully retired!
IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP A FIGHTER WHEN HES “ON”, There is nothing as indescribable as a fighter being, On! When this occurs, your punches flow, have snap, and youve transformed the jitters that have torn at you into adrenalin. In other words, imagine your confidence level is going through the roof of your cranium. This best describes new World 122 lb. champion, Israel Vasquez. Like a runaway train, nothing could stop Vazquez as he dropped reigning champion, Oscar Larios, seconds into the first round.
FOUL WARRANTED ATTENTION & DEDUCTION
The fact that referee, Tony Weeks, didnt take away two points, as stated in the rules, as Vazquez, he intentionally clipped Larios, when he was down.
PUNCHES IN BUNCHES SEEMED LIKE DE JA VU
Having fought twice prior, with Israel drilling Larios inside of one round in 1997, and then Larios stopping him late in a 2001 scrap, its safe to say, they knew one another quite well. With Larios, 120 lbs, trying to box at a distance from the start, Israel, 121 Ω, got a right through the taller Larios defense. With Oscar wobbling, just seconds into the scheduled 12 rounder, Israel would follow this up with about eight shots, some of which landed, with the best being an uppercut, and Larios was down!
OUTSIZED VAZQUEZ WON FIGHT AT WEIGH IN!
Boxing fairly well, after being hurt severely, Larios survived the round, but it was evident after just three minutes, Israel was on and Larios wasnt. This match began with the almost reed thin 58 Larios weighing in two pounds under 122 lb. limit. The second round, which could best be described as pedestrian for both men, was the last complete session of the fight. With Vazquez throwing and Larios catching, two in particular, a huge gash opened up above the left eye of Larios. Referee Tony Weeks called in the ringside MD. The physician called the match off, as Larios was unable to continue on account of the blood flow.
VAZQUEZ DESRVES LOTS OF PRAISE
HBOs Larry Merchant also noticed the accepted resignation of Larios, a longtime champion. I attribute it to Oscar being well aware of the fact Israel was on, and he wasnt! With the win Israel Vasquez, managed by Los Angeles businessman Frank Espinosa, is the undisputed 122 lb. World Champion, and should be recognized as such. Israel, improves to 39-3, (28 KOs). 56-4-1, (35 KOs), is the Larios record.
JOE, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING SIR?
Ex-welterweight king Ike Quartey (37-2, 31 KOs) TKO 10 Carlos Bojorquez (25-8-6). Ike, acted as if he were playing African war drums, instead of beating on the Mexican fighter with ease. Referee Joe Cortez, whom I hardly ever criticize, should not have waited for the 2:12 of round ten to halt the slaughter!
UNDERCARD, IT WAS ALL CHALK!
Demetrius Hopkins (22-0, 9 KOs) KO 4 Jesse Feliciano (13-5-2); Joshua Clottey (28-1; 18 KOs) UD (shutout) 10 over Marcos Primera (19-12); Kofi Jantuah (30-2, 19 KOs) KO 3 Donnie McCrary (13-3-1, 9 KOs; and Larry Mosley (15-1, 6 KOs) KO 2 Jeremy Yelton (18-4, 9 KOs).
Pedro Fernandez