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Arco Arena
Sacramento, CA
May 27, 2005
Those of you who follow local
boxers would have paid twice the price for a ticket. It was a great show; Don
and Lorrain Chargin hit one out of the park. They have consistently brought
great fight nights to Sacramento. Their secret is consistency and attention to
detail. Thanks to them many professional boxers can earn a paycheck doing what
they love. If you’re a fight fan, you gotta be there.
Unfortunately it seems I
don’t get credit for consistency or attention to detail. I have made the trip
to Arco many times to help promote their shows and bring fans in. Yet, when it
came time to finding me a place ringside, I was shunned and cast aside. However,
being a true fight fan, I chose to stay. Sadly, I would not have been much good
from where I was. I felt disrespected and a little pissed off. Things looked
bleak, but I learned in the military that just when you think things can’t get
any worse, they do. The fans sitting behind me were stone drunk and making asses
of themselves. Just when I was about to pack it in, I heard a voice calling my
name. It might as well have been Jesus, because the voice saved me. Like Moses
parting the Red Sea. One of the finest human beings I’ve met in boxing Dave
Nelson, a professional referee got me a sit ringside. I felt as if I’d been
delivered.
Dave Nelson is also a military
veteran. He is a genuine Olympian on the American Team with Cassis Clay, who
latter became Muhammad Ali. This fine old gentleman has given more to boxing
than any promoter or commissioner past or present. Dave has dedicated his entire
life to boxing. It was Dave Nelson who started the PAL boxing club in San Jose.
It was Dave Nelson who championed college Boxing in Santa Clara University. Dave
has mentored and tutored some of today’s most powerful attorneys. His
unassuming style would never let him share such information; he has many friends
in high places. For some reason the brownnosers and political appointees at the
commission have elected to ignore his contributions. According to my sources,
Dave was asked to resign. It seems Dave who belongs to American’s Greatest
Generation does not believe he should have to kiss ass in order to be assigned a
fight. As a result, Dave is not “liked” by the guy in charge, and has not
worked a main event in years. He has been cast aside and sent to work “tough
man shows” in Modesto. He has endured this abuse silently, until now. For a
man who has generaled boxing all his life, this is like being demoted. Yet,
being the man he is, Dave Nelson continues to do his job in a professional
manner. His enemies lack the balls to step up and face him, like cowards they
cast stones form a distance, running when the light shines on them. Its the same
reason I have been calling for a general overhaul of the California Boxing
Commission, its polices, and how they are implemented.
I suggested that he might now
want to be seen with me, as I have being throwing stones at the Boxing
Commission for years. His response impressed me. He said there only a few things
money cannot buy, one those is a real friend. I gotta tell you, they just
don’t make ‘em like him anymore. I am proud to say Dave Nelson is my friend.
I hate egomaniacs that play
politics. I can’t think of name descriptive enough to demonstrate my disdain.
I wonder if they know how much harm they cause? I don’t believe they care,
because if they did, they’d know that pitting referees against each other, and
making them compete for approval, is the cause of so much bad blood amongst
professional referees. It lowers standards, and creates and “good old boy”
psychology, which gives some an unfair, privileged position. I believe the
Governor needs to get involved and thrown out the trash, clean house, and
establish fight assignments on a rotating bases. I have a letter to our
Terminator Governor on the way. Fans are asked to write the Governor.
I did not go to watch the Main
Event. Rogelio Castaneda Jr., of Sacramento with a record of 18-10-3 KOs bumped
heads with Tomas Barrentes, 27-7-17 KOs. It was to evenly matched. Their styles
were identical and made for a dull fight. Both of these guys are real gentlemen.
Rogelio and Tomas put on a good show. I had Barrentes ahead by one round on my
card. Like I said their styles were just too much a like to be interesting. It
was however, a hard fought battle. Neither fighter willing to concede defeat or
surrender. Castaneda got the decision. I spoke with Tomas and his family in the
parking lot of the Arena. He seemed like a real nice guy. He claims to have
earned $18000.00 for the fight. Not a bad payday for a country boy from Texas.
I think Valanna McGee, 8-2-1
with 4 KOs who is the uncrowned princess of Sacramento's boxing had been
pampered way too long. Valanna is a wonderful human being and I admit her kid is
real cute. (Although, I would not want my baby around so much noise and drunken
behavior). Valanna is attractive and always in great condition. However, she’s
being “taken care” of and has padded her record with too many easy wins. She
is not growing nor improving, as she should. To prove my point, Amber Gideon
with only two fights gave Valanna the surprise of her career. Amber who is
shorter and much less experienced demonstrated a heart bigger than Texas. Amber
fought the smartest fight I have ever seen anyone fight against Valanna. I was
impressed with Amber’s conditioning and her determination. Although she was
about four inches shorter, she made up for her size with heart. In the past
Valanna’s opponents have tired to out box her by staying on the outside. This
has been a disaster. Valanna’s long jab and quickness has made them easy
pickings. Amber decided to brawl and gave her a hell of a fight. Sadly, Amber
did not get credit for her tremendous effort. The gods of war still only reward
the victor. Valanna was awarded the decision. I must congratulate Valanna
handlers. They will make certain she is pampered until they can cash in on her
phony record. I know its how the game is played. But, I hope Valanna whom I
believe deserves better, should be aware. The same people getting her easy wins
are gotta want to get paid someday. Guess whose head they are gonna put on the
chopping block? I suggest Valanna demand better opponents now. She should demand
a better trainer, and more experienced sparring partners. I would suggest she
take some time out and re evaluate her options. I suggest she start by learning
some fundamentals, which for some reason her trainers have failed to emphasize.
I suggested Otis Griffin also
get a better trainer, but I guess he misunderstood me. His new trainer was
screaming bloody murder at the officials, who should have thrown him out. He
also publicly insulted the promoter and his wife, not a smart move. Otis should
pack his bags and go looking for a trainer, someone with a little bit more
class. Or at least someone who knows better than to insult the man who hires
you. The guy must have brain damage. I know he also train's Gilbert Martinez,
and that poor guy is simply awful. Otis also fought the toughest fight I’ve
seen him in. His opponent Moses Matova from Las Vegas was as wild and
unpredictable as a drunken pelican. I swear he was winging his arms out so wide
I thought he might start flying. It was an awful fight and I can’t call it
boxing. Otis can the decision.
The best fight of the night was
Vicente Escobedo. To bad it was so short. It was simply a thing of beauty.
Vicente looked great. This kid looks as sharp as a young Oscar De La Hoya.
He’s as quick as Mayweahter and punches as hard as Gatti. I’ve been
following him around since he fought on the USA Boxing Team in Reno against the
French. I can’t take any credit for any of his improvement. I can say I saw
his potential before he was selected to go to the Olympics. I can also say I
felt his loss when he failed to win gold. Vicente has the makings of a great
champion. His last two fights have been textbook lessons in punching power, use
of pivots and jabs. His body shots have improved as has his footwork and
defense. Lets hope Vicente can manage the dark passages that surround boxing.
The dark waters are full of sharks. Lets hope his brother, who is a class act
can help Vicente navigate through professional boxing. I am proud to call
Vicente and his brother my friends. Congratulations Vicente, go for it!
My readers will be happy to
learn I have become syndicated. Yep, I can now claim a little prestige, for what
its worth. I am heading to Monterey this Forth of July to cover a show put on by
Jerry Hoffman, a local promoter who has been putting on great shows for a long
time. He recently moved his ³ Riot at the Hyatt ³ shows to downtown Monterey.
Jerry has always done a good job. Lets hope fight fans will continue to support
him. Jerry has found the formula. He only puts on two shows a year and always
sells out.
As our fighting men in Iraq and
Afghanistan continue to take causalities, I hope boxing fans will continue to
pray for them. Lets hope our Never-been-in-a-fight president will admit his
mistake and start thinking of a way to get our guys out of harms way. As a
former solider in the Persian Gulf, I can’t say I miss it. I never want to see
that place again. As a Life Member of the VFW, I like to stay informed with what
goes on in hot combat zones. We Americans have so much to be grateful. Let’s
not forget Freedom is not free. Our guys are fighting and dying even as we
speak. Things don’t always work out, and the bad guys often win, the rich get
richer and the poor man’s sons go to war. That’s why I say Thank God For
Boxing!
See
you Ring Side
Jorge A. Martinez
Sportswriter/Trainer/Manager
dancingskyhorse@earthlink.net
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