AT LEAST FOR A NIGHT? BOXING WAS SAVED!
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Nov 2011
The location is picturesque. It is one of the world's most popular vacation spot. Last night it was a location of one of the best fight in boxing this year. After several highly hyped and much publicized mega bouts of late, starting with the disaster that is Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz, to the comical Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson and to the snoozer that is Nonito Donaire vs. Omar Narvaez that left boxing fans shaking their heads in disappointment. This fight between two super welterweights Alfredo Angulo, 20-1 (17 KOs) and James Kirkland 29-1 (26 KOs) promises to be a different breed right from the day it was made. And boy, did it prove itself right.
Round one started with Kirkland kissing the canvas after a vicious right from Angulo with just 30 seconds into the fight. Kirkland got backed up and Angulo chased and punched him like a man possessed. Angulo blasted Kirkland with everything he got for more than a minute in that round which drained the gas out Angulo's tank. He punched away and punched himself out in that period of nonstop assault. Kirkland weathered the onslaught and made his move after realizing that Angulo was slowing down and visibly exhausted from the attack. Kirkland started his move with an uppercut and followed it up with combinations on the tired Mexican. It was Kirkland's moment of offense this time as he backed Angulo to the other side of the ring with right and left hooks. A wicked left and right combo hit Angulo hard and hard he goes down. Angulo, albeit wobbly and fatigued, got himself up and survives the round.
The second round was a continuation of the action in the opener. Kirkland continues his offensive in this round with a big left hook that stuns Angulo once again. Angulo tried to hold on but Kirkland bashes Angulo with uppercuts and more hooks. Angulo unable to hold answered back with his own left hook and straights to Kirkland's torso. The pair traded punches to end the round with Kirkland having the upper hand.
Round three was the same back and forth action from the two warriors. But Angulo was clearly spent not only from his efforts in the opening round but also from the punishment he took from Kirkland after that. His movements are slower and he was put on a defensive mode by Kirkland. He also suffered a cut in the round as Kirkland lands most of his power shots to his head.
Angulo seems to tire even more as the action resumed in the 4th. Kirkland took advantage of this as his punches landed at will on the weary Mexican fighter. The cut on Angulo's temple gets nastier as it tastes Kirkland's leather. But the proud Mexican took it all in and survived another round.
Angulo's bravery wasn't more evident than in Round number 5. Visibly fatigued and on unsteady legs, he fought back Kirkland's attempt to finish him off. Kirkland backed him up to the ropes for the majority of the round but Angulo fights back sneaking left and right hooks that halted Kirkland's plans. They traded again in the end of the round.
The end of the slugfest came in at the 2:01 mark of the 6th as the Austin, Texas native continued his assault on Angulo. Kirkland let his hands loose on the defenseless Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico warrior prompting the referee to jump in between fighters to stop the fight. A move praised by the HBO crew calling the fight as valid and justified. Angulo, even with all the fatigue and punishment, showed no indication of wanting to give up.
The fight between these two warriors of the ring gave the boxing world it's much needed boost of adrenaline. They have been let down by the biggest names of the sport and this one was badly needed. It proved PPV events do not necessarily make up the best fights. It proved that even without a title belt on the line or millions of dollars in guaranteed income, all it takes is the willingness of two fighters to put everything on the line like Angulo and Kirkland did. We, boxing fans have suffered from the setbacks that the year's mega events gave us this year. It started with the downer that is Timothy Bradley vs. Devon Alexander in January and the Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley sleeper last May. Last night's match between James Kirkland and Alfredo Angulo is what boxing is and what boxing is all about. There are no losers in this contest. No, not even the defeated Alfredo Angulo who drew admiration with his bravery and will. And most definitely, not the fans of our sport. It produced what probably is the best round in boxing this year in Round 1 and a formidable candidate to the Fight of the Year honors. Yes, boxing was saved, at least for one night.
You can reach Rich Mazon at rrmaze24@aol.com for comments on this article.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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