Boxing (Feb 14)

[H2O Man]

TODAY - at Sunrise, Florida (HBO) -
12 rounds, IBF lightweight title: Nate Campbell
(32-5-1, 25 KOs) vs. Ali Funeka (30-1-2, 25 KOs);
12 rounds, interim WBC super welterweight title:
Sergio Gabriel Martinez (44-1-1, 24 KOs) vs.
Kermit Cintron (30-2, 27 KOs); 10 rounds, light
middleweights: Alfredo Angulo (14-0, 11 KOs) vs.
Cosme Rivera (31-11-2, 23 KOs); 10 rounds, heavyweights:
Ray Austin (26-4-4, 17 KOs) vs. Julius Long
(15-10, 13 KOs).

Nate Campbell failed to make weight yesterday, and thus has been stripped of his IBF, WBA, and WBO titles. Although the fight will still be held, if he wins, he will not be recognized as champion, and the titles will be vacant. If Funeka wins, however, he will become champion.

It's a shame that a good fighter like Campbell has had the problems he has experienced since winning the titles in an upset victory over Juan Diaz. In September, he was scheduled to defend against Joan Guzman, who pulled out at the last minute. Guzman, who failed to make weight, had the option of still fighting, though not for the title. He decided not to fight a couple hours before he would have entered the ring. Campbell lost his opportunity to make a $300,000 purse, and ended up being forced to file for bankruptcy shortly afterwards.

Campbell, 36, failed to lose more than 1/2 a pound after coming in three pounds over the limit.

The undercard looks entertaining. Kermit Cintron should beat Martinez, who has an impressive record, until one examines the quality of the opposition he has faced. Cintron's only loses were to Margarito, and since the hand-wrapping incident before his lose to Mosley, many of Margarito's victories are being questioned.

Alfredo Angulo is being featured on the HBO undercard. Cosme Rivera is a capable journeyman fighter, and if Angulo beats him, he is expected to start fighting against some top ten competition later this year. There is talk of having him face James Kirkland, which on paper would look to be one of the most exciting fights that could be made in the sport today.

Enjoy the fights!

[TroubleMan]

1. The Cintron fight was bizarre.

IMHO even with the point deduction on Martinez, Cintron still lost. I never seen a KO get called and then uncalled before. Strange stuff.

The Campbell/Funeka fight was good. Campbell honestly should have won more handily, but he was gassed. Funeka had the fight but blew it in the last two rounds. I thought it was going to be a draw.

[H2O Man]

2. Cintron

was counted out. I found Max Kellerman's confusion about the rules odd -- he kept saying a person is considered "up" once no part of their body except the soles of their feet is touching the canvas. In fact, a person is consider to be knocked down if any part of their body, other than the soles of their feet, hits the canvas. (Also, if they are going down, and only stay up due to the ropes, the referee is supposed to count it as a knockdown.)

Getting up after a knockdown is distinct. A person has to be standing erect, and show the ref that they are prepared to continue. This is done by raising one's hands to the level of your chin.

Cintron was down at nine, and the ref actually allowed more than a second before counting off the "ten." This appeared to be due to the bell. However, at very most, Cintron was beginning to get up as he was counted out. He began to argue with the referee, who said, "It's over." Then the referee walked Cintron towards his corner.

Cintron was not saying he beat the count. He kept saying that he went down due to a head butt, which was clearly not true. More, a referee only walks a fighter to his corner in one circumstance: after the fighter has been knocked out. A referee never walks a fighter to his corner for any other reason.

The only thing that was more corrupt than the ref reversing his action was the officials' decision. Although I had hoped that Cintron would win going into the fight, he was easily outclassed, and clearly lost a large majority of the rounds.

I thought that Campbell was lucky to get the decision in his fight. I would not have thought that a draw would have been bad. I also could support Funeka getting a close decision. Campbell did have two very impressive rounds, with the knockdowns. If he had any gas in the tank, he could have ended the fight after the second one. It was a good fight.

The first fight was the most impressive. I like a good body-puncher.