San Jose Fight Card Report: Kirkland Shines
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 08 Mar 2009
San Jose, CA ? James Kirkland elevated to another level tonight in front of 6,765 enthusiastic fans at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Kirkland outworked and outclassed a game Joel Julio over 6 rounds.
Julio failed to reach the 7th because a cut eye that was rapidly closing. There were indeed plenty of fireworks in the first 4 rounds. Surprisingly, Julio, known as a pure power puncher, boxed for the majority of the fight. Kirkland fought like a hurricane that could not be stopped.
Anne Wolf, former female world champion and trainer of Kirkland, instilled in her fighter the eye of the tiger and it showed in the fight. Kirkland was up on his feet 15 seconds before the start of each round and had a determined look in his face throughout the fight. And he had to because Julio brought some heat to the fight. Julio was able to land huge haymakers and combinations flush on Kirkland?s face, but the fighter from Austin, TX, would not back down.
As the fight progressed, Julio started to fade. He was still on his feet boxing but he started to push his punches more and was not willing to exchange with Kirkland as he did in the early rounds. By the 6th round, Kirkland?s conditions and aggressiveness took over the fight. Still, Julio was able to land clean blows but it was clear that Julio, with that busted eye, could not go further.
It was an exciting bout but the ending was anti-climatic. Kirkland, who is still undefeated at 24-0 (21 KO?s), proved that he could impose his ultra aggressive style on anyone?punchers or boxers. At 154lbs, Kirkland is ready for a title shot against any of the champions there except maybe the IBF titlist Paul Williams. A bout with Kermit Cintron or Sergio Martinez would be good match-up for Kirkland in the near future. Julio, who was stopped for the first time though he wasn?t knocked down, drops to 34-3 (31 KO?s).
On the undercard, Victor Ortiz once again blitzed through another opponent. This time he stopped Mike Arnaoutis in just the second round. Both fighters started off slow in the first round, each trying to figure out the style of each other. It was like that for most of the second round until Ortiz landed a clean left cross that staggered Arnaoutis into his blue corner.
From there, Ortiz finished the fight throwing a series of combinations on Arnaoutis, who was not throwing back. The referee then stepped in and stopped the bout. It seemed like a premature stoppage especially for a fighter of Arnaoutis? status as a former title challenger. However, Arnaoutis was not throwing any punches back or moving his head. It?s hard to gage Ortiz based on this fight. He definitely showed he can finish a hurt fighter but he was not tested in any way against Arnaoutis. Ortiz, now 23-1-1 (18 KO?s), has to be considered a top 10 Jr. Welterweight. 140lbs is a deep division and interesting fights can be made against Kendall Holt, Timothy Bradley, Nate Campbell, or Zab Judah.
Most of the 6,765 fans who packed the arena came to see hometown fighter Robert Guererro make his HBO Boxing After Dark debut against little known Daud Yordan. In what looked to be an exciting bout, the fight was cut short because of a clash of heads that opened a big cut on the right of Guererro?s eye in the second round.
Guerrero claimed he could not see and the referee stopped the fight. Because it was only the second round, the bout was officially ruled a no contest. It was a shame that Robert?s corner couldn?t work on the cut in between rounds. The unknown Yordan backed up his undefeated record by showing good boxing and landed some good shots on Guerrero in the first round.
Guerrero seemed surprised by Yordan?s effectiveness. From ringside, observers believed that the TV microphones overheard Guerrero telling the doctor he could not continue because of the eye. It?s always interesting to see how fighters handle themselves when faced with adversity. Guerrero has been the front runner in his past couple of fights and it seemed as if Yordan was going to test Guerrero. Fighters get cut all the time but they continue to fight.
Manny Pacquiao?s eye was falling out of his socket against Erik Morales in 2005, but he finished the fight. If Guerrero wanted to get out of the fight, then you have to question whether Guerrero really has what it takes to be a major player in boxing. However, the cut was deep and the blood was dripping into the right eye of Guerrero; the lead eye because he is a southpaw. These two fighters should fight again as soon as Guererro?s cut heals.
NON-TELEVISED BOUTS
Heavyweight prospect Ashanti Jordan scored the knockout of the night when he dropped Willie Perryman with a vicious right and left combination. Perryman hit the deck hard and the fight was called off. Jordan, 8-0 (7 KO?s), is a heavyweight, American, and therefore someone to watch for in the future?Karim Mayfield escaped with a split decision win against a game Mario Lozano. The six round knockdown was the difference between a win and a draw. Mayfield remains undefeated at 8-0-1 (5 KO?s). Lozano losses for the time in 7 fights?Official attendance were 6,765 paid. It was a lively crowd and a good sign for future fights to land in the Bay Area?This was the second time I?ve been to the HP Pavilion. Now I understand why the National Hockey League (NHL) San Jose Sharks have such a strong home court advantage. The noise 6,000 people made sounded like 12,000 people were in the arena.
Top photo: Undefeated junior middleweight contender James Kirkland (Left) lands a left hand against highly ranked junior middleweight contender Joel Julio (Right) en route to a seventh round technical knockout victory on March 7, 2009 at The HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. Photo by Tom Hogan - Hoganphotos / Golden Boy.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jason Aniel.
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