SHOW A LITTLE APPRECIATION
Jan. 24, 2002
It's time Bob Arum gave Stevie Johnston the
respect he deserves. Johnston has been faithful to Top Rank for many years, yet
he has fought his entire career at a disadvantage, always fighting in his
opponent's backyard. Even after winning the WBC world championship from Jean
Baptiste Mendy in 1997 he was still required to defend his title in hostile
territory. Johnston would make his first title defense against Japan's Hiroyuki
Sakamoto in Yokohama. Johnston's next two fights were in Las Vegas and then
in Atlantic City, NJ. Arum would have Johnston make his fourth title defense in
El Paso, TX against Mexican Cesar Bazan in front of a crowd of nearly
100% Mexican and Spanish speaking fans. Johnston loses his title by split
decision, but regains his crown eight months later in a rematch held in Miami,
winning by split decision.
After regaining the WBC title, Johnston defends his title in the comfort of
neutral ground in Las Vegas. Next, Arum has Johnston travel to Ledyard, CT to
defend against Angel Manfredy and to Wembley, England to defend against Billy
Schwer.
Finally, Johnston would fight in his home town of Denver, CO when he
successfully defended his belt against Julio Alvarez.
Then he's on the road again to Bell Gardens, CA to defend against Mexican
fighter Jose Luis Castillo, where the only Afro-Americans were Team
Johnston and other fighters on the card. Again, Johnston loses by split
decision. A rematch is held in Denver on Sept. 15, 2000 (Mexican Independence
Day weekend) and ends with Johnston regaining his title. The then newly-formed
Colorado Boxing Commission later claimed there was an error in tallying up the
score cards and reversed the decision to a draw, Castillo retaining his WBC
championship.
Although rated #1 by the WBC, Johnston still sits in the background while
waiting for another shot at a world title.
Bob, bend a little and give the brother some love. Stevie has been loyal to you
and a rematch with Castillo or a title challenge against Spadafora or Dorin
should not be out of the question...
There's a good fight on tap this weekend. After contemplating a move up in
weight, "Sugar" Shane Mosley will step into the ring and face Vernon
Forrest, who defeated Mosley as an amateur. Forrest has an unblemished
record and intends to remain undefeated after this weekend's encounter. Mosley
does not see the fight going past six rounds. However, should Mosley take this
fight for granted, he will be in trouble. Forrest might be boxing's most
under-rated fighter. I'll come short of calling an upset in this fight, but I
say Forrest will come to fight and give Mosley his toughest fight since DeLaHoya...
SETUP? - The Mike Tyson/Lennox Lewis news conference fiasco certainly was
made to happen.
Poor Tyson. So predictable, it was easy for promoters to set him up. First, you
tell Tyson that when the news conference starts, you want to have a face off.
Pretty simple stuff... Except you forget to tell Lewis about the face off.
Now just let Tyson be himself, duck and hope no one gets hurt!
Tyson walks over to Lewis' side of the stage and a Lewis bodyguard sees this as
a threat and steps in to stop Tyson. Tyson, being the gentleman he's not, takes
offense and throws a left hook at the bodyguard. Lewis steps in throwing his own
right hand and all the big boys step in to restrain both fighters.
Pretty good planning. Just a guess on my part and maybe I'm wrong but if I
am, why wasn't Tyson stopped when he stepped off the platform he was standing on
on his side of the stage? Why? - We want your money! Buy the fight!
The only serious injury was to WBC president Jose Sulaiman. Standing
behind the curtain, he was blindly hit and knocked down by the assembly in an
uproar. Sulaiman was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for a
concussion.
After the fiasco Lewis said “As a result of today’s events, I will
re-evaluate my options after the relevant boxing commission has ruled.”
Indicating maybe he won't fight Tyson. Yeah, right. And if I hit the Lotto
jackpot, I'll use the ticket to wipe my --- skin.
Lewis intends to fight Tyson not only once but twice as I understand a rematch
has been set for sometime in October. Then he surely will retire a very wealthy
man. Tyson? Well, he will surely have fun with his money for a few
years... Oscar DeLaHoya and Fernando Vargas started to
promote their May 4th encounter with a little pushing and shoving at their press
conference. Both fighters are out to settle a West Coast feud and prove to the
world once and for all who is California's top dog. Look for DeLaHoya to
out perform the "no moves" Vargas in every aspect of the game.
Entrepreneur vs. Thug. Without a baseball bat, Vargas won't be able to hit
DeLaHoya. Oscar by knockout...
-Blackbull-