6 de abril de 1987, hace 23 años, Sugar Ray Leonard se confirmaba como uno de los grandes peleadores de todos los tiempos, una leyenda, ganándole en una decisión cuestionada por algunos, para mí muy merecida, a otro gigante, MARVIN HAGLER.

Sugar Ray dominaba al mítico zurdo de Massachusetts que hacía la décimo tercera defensa. El juez José Juan Guerra, de Monterrey, uno de los muy conspícuos jueces mexicanos, le dio 8 puntos a Leonard. Lou Filippo de California le dio 2 puntos a HAGLER y Dave Moretti, de Nevada, le dio 2 puntos a Leonard confirmando la victoria de Sugar, el de Maryland.

Hagler se retiró del boxeo para siempre, lo que es una prueba no circunstancial de que no había vendido su título como dijeron algunos. La gente de esa estirpe, los gladiadores históricos, los superhombres del ring no venden sus títulos, los ganan y los pierden con dignidad.

Leonard más que en ninguna otra de sus noches triunfales, aprobó el examen y se catapultó al cielo de los boxeadores, al sitio de los inmortales que buscan muchos y que alcanzan unos pocos bendecidos por la voluntad divina para ser diferentes, únicos, gloriosos, insignes.

Hagler se retiró a tiempo, a salvo todo su prestigio. Leonard siguió el derrotero de la mayoría, y se expuso sin necesidad a que lo golpearan irrespetuosamente Terry Norris y el Macho Camacho, dos que en otro tiempo no le hubieran dado pelea.

Pero así es el boxeo, se escribe con claroscuros. Y les asegura a sus mejores protagonistas noches de felicidad incomparable y otras de compungida contrición cuando los años señalan que ya no somos los mismos de antes.

9 de abril de 1984, hace 26 años, GABRIEL BERNAL, el de Guerrero, se convertía en campeón al ganar a domicilio al japonés KOJI KOBAYASHI. En un despliegue de valor pocas veces visto BERNAL se sobrepuso a un mal comienzo y en el segundo round mandó a dormir a Kobayashi y se trajo a méxico el título de los moscas del CMB. Grandiosa, inolvidable esa victoria de GABRIEL BERNAL que es uno de los 13 campeones de peso mosca que hemos tenido.

Hoy quiero recordar varias cosas, porque las fechas hacen que sean aniversarios.

En primer lugar, 8 de abril de 1979, hace 31 años, un hecho insólito cuando una pelea de título mundial se canceló a la hora que debía comenzar, y con uno de los peleadores ya sobre el ring para pelear.

Resulta que el argentino Víctor Galínez, incomparable campeón de peso semicompleto, tenía que defender en Las Vegas contra el local Mike Rossman. El promotor argentino Juan Carlos Lectoure, que manejaba a Galíndez, había acordado con la AMB –que por entonces era una organización más o menos respetable– que habría jueces neutrales, que por cierto estaban presentes y dispuestos a trabajar. La Comisión Atlética de Nevada no aceptó los jueces neutrales, quería 4 hombres de los EEUU para juzgar una pelea en la que sólo uno de los dos peleadores era de los EEUU. Rossman estaba sobre el ring, pero Galíndez nunca subió, en una demostración de dignidad que ojalá vieramos más seguido, como respuesta al atropello de los poderosos de Las Vegas que siempre corren con una vergonzosa ventaja contra los peleadores de afuera. En cuanto a la pelea Galíndez-Rossman, se realizó dos meses más tarde en Nuerva Orleans, con jueces neutrales, ahora sí, pero que no fueron necesarios porque Galíndez ganó por nocaut.

SIMON BLOCK
Hon Secretary
Commonwealth Boxing Council

Eric Buhain is no longer chairman of the Games and Amusements Board. He has been appointed as a director of the Bureau of Immigration by President Arroyo.

Insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports learned that Buhain’s appointment as a BID director took effect on March 15. The position carries a guaranteed six year term although the appointment may be questioned as a violation of the election ban.

The former multi-titled Southeast Asian Games swimmer who also represented the Philippines in the Asian Games and the Olympics was originally appointed as Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission but was transferred to the GAB as chairman which was regarded as effectively a demotion.

Appointed as OIC of the GAB was Commissioner Ramon Guanzon of Bacolod City. He was named commissioner reportedly with the backing of congressman Monico Puentevella.

- GTP –

HOLLYWOOD, FL, March 18 – In boxing, nothing’s more exciting than a knockout. So it goes without saying that with 13 knockout wins in 13 pro fights, Puerto Rico’s Kenny Galarza is rapidly finding his way onto most fans’ ‘must see’ list.

Last Friday night at the Sosua Bay Grand Casino in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the 24-year old made it a lucky 13 in a row as he halted 34 fight veteran Miguel Casillas in just three rounds.

The victory is Galarza’s second of 2010 already, and the current NABO junior welterweight champion is soaring up the world rankings, as he is currently ranked 11th by the WBO and ready for all comers at 140-pounds.

“Kenny keeps getting better with each bout, and his speed and power are just devastating, even as we lift his level of competition,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Warriors Boxing, Galarza’s promoter. “He’s on the verge of stardom and I know he’s putting in the hard work necessary to join the likes of Trinidad, Cotto, and Calderon in the coming years.”

DL: From what I understand, you’re an undefeated welterweight (11-0-1, 7 KOs ) who has been beating guys in their own backyard. How are things going with your career? “Everything’s good so far. My (managerial) contract with Jackie Kallen just ended, so everything’s looking good.”

DL: Was that a contract you had been wanting to get out of?

KM: It was a three-year contract and it ended in early March. So yeah, definitely. I had only nine fights in three years, so I’m looking forward to being a little more busy and having more opportunities.

DL: Well, you have a fight coming up on March 19th with Mario Ramos (17-6-1) in Reno , Nevada . What can we expect?

KM: Well, it’s been a good training camp and I’m ready to go. It should be an exciting fight and I’m coming out with the victory.

DL: What’s the next step after March 19th? What are your goals for 2010?

KM: My goals are to be more active this year. I’ve never ducked anybody in my career and I want to get in there and I look forward to fights with some of the marquee names and prospects, or so-called prospects. But I definitely look forward to fighting some of these guys

PREPPED AND READY FOR
WORLD TITLE FIGHT

Challenges WBO/IBF Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf, Germany on Saturday, March 20th
Six Questions With the #1-rated WBO Heavyweight Contender.

Los Angeles, CA (March 11, 2010) – Top American heavyweight “Fast Eddie” Chambers (35-1, 18 KOs) is set to take on Ukrainian giant and WBO/IBF World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko (53-3, 47 KOs) on Saturday night, March 20th, at the 51,000 seat ESPRIT Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany.

This will be the first world title opportunity for Chambers and his third time fighting on German soil. He sustained his only loss as a pro by decision in Berlin to Alexander Povetkin in his first visit back in January, 2008, and stopped another mammoth-sized Ukrainian – undefeated 6-7 Alexander Dimitrenko – in his most recent outing in Hamburg last July 4th.

Goossentutor.com now takes you “Inside the Mind” of Chambers leading into the final days prior to the biggest fight of his career with “Six Questions” for the American hopeful:

GOOSSENTUTOR.COM: How are you feeling both physically and mentally going into the biggest fight of your career against Wladimir Klitschko?

CHAMBERS: “I feel great, both physically and mentally! I’m in the best shape of my career. We’ve done a lot of things in camp to prepare both physically and mentally. We’ve been away from the everyday situations of being at home that we have been able to focus on the task at hand. We came up here to the Poconos to get that focus, work hard and do whatever is necessary to win this title fight.”

GOOSSENTUTOR.COM: Your Goossen Tutor stablemates – Tony Thompson and Chris Arreola – both lost to a Klitschko brother in world title fights. Were you able to take anything away from watching their fights and why do you feel that you can do what they could not – which is to win?

CHAMBERS: “I have a different set of skills than both of them, although I did see there were certain things that they did in their fights. One thing in particular was that they didn’t get their jabs in enough. Although Tony pressured Wladimir a great deal, even on one leg, he was able to make it very difficult at times for Wladimir to dominate the fight. And Chris also was using his jab and at times effectively. But he stood in front of Vitali too much. They really didn’t take advantage of their opportunities. With me, on the other hand, I use different angles, different movement and work my jab and stay behind my jab and will not allow Vladimir to keep his distance all day and pound away.”

GOOSSENTUTOR.COM: Do you feel more at ease going to Germany fighting for a third time?

CHAMBERS: “I am more used to it. My first time let me know that you can’t be short-training, just thinking all day about the fight and not enjoying the experience and have fun with it. This is supposed to be a life experience and you’re supposed to enjoy it. And if you just sit tight in your room and not enjoy the people and the experience of what you’re trying to be – a star in boxing – then it really isn’t going to work out for you. With the fight with Dimitrenko and now this fight, I’m just going to enjoy myself and experience going over there.”

GOOSSENTUTOR.COM: Like Wladimir Klitschko, your last opponent – Alexander Dimitrenko – entered the ring with a 6-inch height and reach advantage. You were very effective in out-boxing him. Can you fight Wladimir the same way or does his style cause you to make adjustments?

CHAMBERS: “I think you can in certain ways fight Wladimir the same way because they both fight from a distance. But you can’t just stand in front of Wladimir because with his long reach he’ll keep you at bay. I have to jab and move and do different things before I just come in and try and engage in the offense.”

GOOSSENTUTOR.COM: “Whom have you been sparring with to prepare for Klitschko?

CHAMBERS: “I had one guy who’s very tall and a good boxer and mover in Marcellus Brown. I also had Sean McClain, who is a guy who was busy and threw a lot of punches and we normally put him in around the middle to late rounds. And then we had Malik Scott come in. He’s a fast, tall boxer who would move and give me different angles and different looks and made me work to get in the last shot.”

GOOSSENTUTOR.COM: What can boxing fans expect from “Fast Eddie” Chambers on Saturday night, March 20th?

CHAMBERS: “A lot of speed; a lot of ability and movement and an overall work rate that it takes to be the heavyweight champion of the world on the night of March 20th.”

www.goossentutor.com