Vol. 5, No. 12, December 2008
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Grudge Match
Holt and Torres face off for the third time at Boardwalk Hall
Unheralded Kendall Holt and Ricardo Torres unfurl the magic with the third fight in their terrific rivalry December 13 at Boardwalk Hall. Their WBO junior welterweight title bout completes one of the wildest, craziest roller-coaster rides between boxers in recent memory.
In each of their first two fights, the boxer who trailed snatched victory from defeat's door. Torres delivered the first act, stunning Holt with an 11th round technical knockout in Columbia last year. Holt led by seven points on one card and one point on another, with two rounds remaining. Winning either the 11th or 12th round would have given the Paterson native the title. Instead, Torres turned the tables with a knockdown and technical knockout victory before a delirious crowd.
Because the fight was close and generously dubbed “controversial,” the rematch occurred earlier this year in Nevada. Holt then became the magician. He appeared hopelessly out of the fight when Torres dropped him with a right hand 15 seconds into the fight. Less than 30 seconds later, Torres fired a left hook that dropped Holt again. It seemed to be over. Torres moved in for the finish, but BOOM, walked into a left-hook right-hand combination and was knocked out for several minutes. The 180-degree turn had occurred in two seconds.
The memorable turnaround shows how boxing indeed produces miracles. Now Atlantic City showcases the presumed final installment of the three-fight series.
Boxing has enjoyed a few high-profile, three-bout rivalries. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier graced the ’70s with their heavyweight “thrill-ogy.” In the 1980s, Greg Haugen and Vinny Pazienza capped their three-bout affair in Atlantic City. In 2003, Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward fought their tie-breaking battle here (Gatti won, despite breaking his hand on Ward's hip early in the fight).
Rematches prompt the issue of adjustment. In this case, how will Torres rebound after being stopped on a dime? The advantage usually rests with the person who delivered the most recent knockout. Will Holt come gunning for Torres, believing he has Torres’ number, or will he proceed more cautiously? Will being ahead on the scorecards be a joy or a jinx?
Because these questions are legitimate and not easily answered, the bout has intrigue. Holt enters at 24-2 with 13 knockouts. Torres carries a 32-2 mark with 28 knockouts. Avoid getting refreshments when this one gets under way.
Holt-Torres caps a prosperous 2008 for Atlantic City. The volume of bouts was not important, but the implications were.
THE PROVING GROUND
What happened here set the stage for several significant developments in the boxing world.
Paulie Malignaggi utilized the Boardwalk as a stepping stone, with a January victory over Lovemore N’Dou. The Brooklyn fighter, making the first defense of his IBF 140-pound title, struggled throughout the first portion of the fight but managed to rally in the second half and capture a close decision.
How important was it? Malignaggi parlayed the victory into a November showdown against Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas. For the quick-talking New Yorker, the January victory was the difference between a mediocre year and a substantial, career-high payday against Hatton.
April featured two fighters who would later vie in one of boxing’s fights of the year. Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto blazed an impressive doubleheader victory at the Hall, leading to their memorable July battle in Las Vegas.
Margarito avenged an earlier career loss to Kermit Cintron with a decisive victory. He displayed superior strength and attitude, pummeling a fighter who had beaten him earlier. Margarito was a deceptive 2-1 underdog because of the previous loss, but waged one of the best fights in his career.
Cotto complied with the script, obtaining the easy-as-expected victory against Alphonso Gomez. He was far superior and looked unbeatable on this night. Because each triumphed at the Hall, they met three months later in Las Vegas.
Margarito again worked the inside beautifully in that fight, overpowering Cotto and giving the popular Puerto Rican his first defeat ever. The bout had tremendous pace and fan appeal. It should be honored among the top fights of the year, if not gain the distinction outright.
June featured Part One of the Kelly Pavlik saga. Atlantic City was pleased to welcome its adopted son from Youngstown, Ohio, who had scored a pulsating come-from-behind victory over Jermain Taylor the previous September. Filling a void left by the retired Gatti, Pavlik got a hero’s welcome here. Amid the recession and scholastic graduation conflicts in Ohio, Pavlik still drew a respectable crowed for his overwhelming victory against Gary Lockett. Indeed, he looked like the most unbeatable middleweight in the world.
Perhaps he should have stayed there. Or did he simply run into destiny? Pavlik came back to the Hall in October against Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins at a unique 170-pound catch weight. Hopkins, who holds the boxing record of 20 consecutive middleweight defenses (160 pounds) had long since moved up to 175 and become comfortable with the weight. He had battered Antonio Tarver in 2006 in one of his all-time virtuoso performances.
It did not look like he could top that one, but he shattered the standard. Hopkins bullied, harassed and toyed with Pavlik en route to a one-sided verdict. Unleashing combinations against the confused Pavlik, Hopkins delivered a substantial beating. From the third round on, Pavlik was not even in the fight.
The implications of this bout will unwind over the next several months. Pavlik needs time off and a return to the middleweight division. It will be interesting to see what this took out of him.
Hopkins awaited other developments in boxing, secure of another grand payday if he wants one. But his anticipated rematch with Roy Jones will not materialize. Jones was battered in early November by Joe Calzaghe in New York.
Casino Connection Sports Editor Dave Bontempo, an award-winning writer and broadcaster, calls major boxing matches throughout the world for HBO International and pay-per-view companies. He will call the Holt-Torres bout for an international audience.
