Vic Darchinyan
-Photo Credit: Tom Casino/Showtime-

The October 7 HBO-Showtime Saturday double dip special had it all - and as that 1960s Four Seasons pop song went, "Oh what a night" it was.

I mean, of the three bouts this reporter caught, it had a bit of something for everyone - action, drama, sweet-n-sour - and for those that enjoy slapstick, they tossed in assorted clowns faking it as ring officials.

But first things first, Showtime scored big with small in stature, but a giant in punching power, Armenian southpaw Vic Darchinyan successfully defending the IBF flyweight bauble in a systematic breaking down of game Filipino Glenn Donaire - Donaire called it no mas during stanza six action due to suspected broken jaw.

Opening round saw both looking to counter - Darchinyan in careful pursuit and Donaire overly tentative while using the ring but little punching - then stanza two and the beginning of ‘Katie bar the door’ scorching exchanges as the Filipino went toe to toe with the explosive dynamo Darchinyan.

Candle three gave hint that Darchinyan was simply too strong and accurate with the power left as he repeatedly found the target - then numero cuatro and the handwriting on the wall - Donaire is dropped by a counter right hook.

A schooled Donaire had moments with right hands to body and head - but on each occasion it would be a quick countering Darchinyan taking the play away - finally number six and Donaire on the receiving end of the sharp shooting southpaw.

Then a surprise - Donaire is seen backing off after still another Darchinyan barrage and walking to his corner. A confused referee in charge Tony Weeks rushes to the bleeding Filipino - then the time out signal while calling the house quack in for a diagnosis.

Guess is suspected broken jaw and Donaire cannot continue - ok, fine and dandy and understandable, the kid had taken a major league shellacking - so, TKO, right?  Wrong!

Remember the Weeks-Donaire brief earlier chat? Weeks buys a "inadvertent clash of heads" as the culprit - however the taped replay shows no such thing - was the power barrages that did gallant Glenn in. Later, clown one of the evening, Tony Weeks confesses he never saw any meeting of the minds but accepted the battered Donaire’s version.

Scoring went unanimous for Darchinyan with matching 60-53 tallies - my unofficial agreed 60-53 in points and six- 0 via round by round method.

Post Scripts: Darchinyan now at 27-0- 21 with a technical decision that carries an asterisk - one that should be reversed, if  the hapless collection of  NSAC simpletons do a review of the mythological head butt.
                       Glenn Donaire ~ the #2 WBO ranked 26 year old has nothing to be ashamed of - showed good technical skills and matching heart. Was simply overmatched in this one - outscored is one thing, outscored with proverbial tons of power punches round after round is another thing.

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With adrenaline flowing we quickly take leave of Sin City, and scoot over to Rosemont, ILL  for the Tomasz Adamek (30-0, 21KO) - Paul Briggs ( 25-2, 18KO) WBC light heavyweight title fight.

This, a return affair that saw Adamek retaining the belt via split-decision - word from across the pond had the first meeting  worthy of fight of the year honors - after watching last noche’s do over, it would get my vote as well.

Tomasz the taller and physically stronger in appearance opens the show with eye catching western in style skills - has things all his way until a surprise Briggs left hook to the sweet spot drops the pride of Poland.

Stanza two a big one for Adamek who dominates with assorted combinations - sends the Sydney, Australia slugging Briggs to his corner with cut over left eye - and the drama would go back and forth as Briggs comes alive in numbers 4-5-6 with aggressive effectiveness.

And so it went down to the proverbial run to the wire in a two for me, two for you scenario of back and forth hot exchanges - no easy call for the judges at ringside.

Much like last year’s scoring that favored Adamek via split decision, this time around it was Adamek 115-111, 114-112 and all square at 113-113 for a successful defense via majority decision.

This scorer saw it Briggs 114-112 in points and 6-5-1 in rounds - another one worthy of play it again status.

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Then, the HBO main event with defending WBA heavyweight champ Nicolai Valuev retaining the bauble via round eleven TKO over veteran Monte Barrett when his corner wisely intervened at 2:12 of the stanza.

Not much to say here other than size won out over a burned out former contender - Valuev is likely shareholder numero four of comrades Klitschko (IBF), Liakhovich (WBO), Maskaev (WBC) - the super sized Valuev package is too much a target to get by Wlad and Sergei and slight underdog if next dance partner is Oleg.

Barrett showed mucho courage once the adrenaline surge dissipated, and subsequent mauling became the name of the game - the 105 or so poundage edge wore Monte down and readied him for an ugly stanza eleven.

The final candle eleven saw Barrett on shaky legs, totally exhausted and dropped twice - beats the count but on empty tank and king of hacks referee John O’Brien was letting it go - luckily, the Barrett corner rushed in to do fraud O’Brien’s job.

Valuev goes to undefeated 45-0 with 33 stoppages - Barrett  drops to 31-5 with 17 whacks that is fine on paper but clearly time to ride off into the sunset.

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Rest of the story:

Top prize honors goes to Vic Darchinyan who has clearly showed the total package of power and subtle skills from the port side - toss in a solid chin and the inevitable step up to bantamweight is in the collective mindset. Not sure about a Rafael Marquez pairing just now. Wiser maybe to go the S/flyweight Luis Perez route - either way the guy is worth the price for top billing come next outing.

Second prize honors to WBC light heavy champ Tomasz Adamek who mixed impressive combination punching with true grit as he battled through adversity for the majority decision.

Honorable mention to Paul Briggs who came up short on two cards and a standoff on the third. Kept bringing the mail in case book club fighter of yore style. A fun watch that definitely earned the Aussie rough rider another date over HBO.

Booby Prizes AKA enter the clowns department:
Fortunately, the fighters carried the nite - the hacks in charge of the action on this twin bill were clueless. Matters not how many assignments, some of the today referees remain treading water. Where are the yesterday Arthur Mercante Sr. and more recently veteran types Elmo Adolph quality acts when we need them?

Best of a sad trio recognition goes to Tony Weeks - would have received passing grades on technique but for one major inexcusable blunder. The book of rules, whether it be  referees or umpires, instructs candidates to only call what you see. Assumptions unacceptable. Thus the mythological head butt should never have been the "game" ending decisive call, especially in a title tilt. Going to the scorecards could have resulted in wrong guy getting the decision. No damage here with  Darchinyan tossing a perfect game - but the credibility to Weeks in his announced 30th title fight assignment spoke volumes.
    
Next butcher of the night Tim Adams of "Above all, obey my commands at all times" ignominy infamy - this fraud has himself a fight of the night affair that would come down to the proverbial wire and what does he do - round nine of a close one after eight stanzas and Adamek with the edge - then a low blow - warning to Adamek … later a punch to the hip, and a point deduction. The hip? Doubt Briggs arrived without the "foul proof Taylor" protective leather harness with the metal cup inside - it could well have cost the defending champ his title.

Finally, the Valuev-Barrett two-step with buffoon John O’Brien at center stage - clearly earns dishonorable mention. This guy should be mandated to work in camouflage 

The non-stop ludicrous rambling rhetoric served zero purpose -  then, with the Barrett fuel tank long on empty, and barely beating the count on two trips to the canvas in stanza eleven, he’s letting the thing continue.

Luckily for Barrett the corner finally realized he no longer had a prayer of winning and was in desperate need of R & R. Surely beats a playing of Taps.

GEL -  

10-07-2006