Last nite’s ESPN 2008 WNF season was not
only four months late with its debut, but worse - albeit
typical on past performance - opens the “new” season preempted
by a major league beizbol game.
The advertised scheduled time for the
fights 21:00 hours - then an update had it taped for 22:00
hours - made sense to someone in programming - especially
since beizbol 2008 still has some 155 games left before its
regular season finishes - and the playoffs begin.
No surprise here - have heard that song
before from the kiddie channel - with time outs, extra
innings, some team sports end late enough that the taped
boxing sometimes closes after midnight.
So, I fill the void in futile attempt to
get a read on its main event - strangers in the night
flyweights Rayonta Whitfield (20-0, 10 KOs) in with Manuel
Vargas (24-2, 10 KOs) - had never seen either fighter before,
but on paper it held my interest.
Still, we’re talking kiddie channel, so I
took it couple steps further by visiting Boxrec.com for vitals
of interest - and as quick in a proverbial flash I get more
than I bargained for.
Was originally advertised as WBO, IBF dual
eliminator - Whitfield at #2 on the WBO charts but Vargas MIA
- then, IBF pulls the plug on it as eliminator since Whitfield
is its numero nine and Vargas numero eight - hardly high
enough on the pecking order for title recognition.
Then, before bailing out, something grabs
me after perusing the respective prior kept appointments - as
in scalps taken. Ready or not, here’s a few that should upset
the stomach: Couple of Whitfield captures go Lee Cargle of
35-102-1 infamy (has worsened since they met); Antonio Smith
another past gimme that was 7-33-2 before losing to our
undefeated WBO #2 hot shot.
The Vargas sheet glitters, but not from
gold; it's studded with wins over a score of nameless victims
that went 3-7-3; 9-12-0; 0-13-0; 31-20-0; 19-15-2.
On that note, let the games begin!
A scheduled six round novice
feather-lightweight affair with young age 21 and undefeated
local Mark Davis entering with 5-0, 3 KO’s in with Sadat
Vazquez at age 29 and .500 batting average of 2-2, 1 KO.
All go as planned with Davis tossing a
shutout and co-commentators Tessie and Teddy saluting the past
pedigree of some - get this - 200 amateur fights. Davis gets
win numero six with 3 KOs in a very entertaining affair.
Vazquez short-changed in technique but
proved game in going the distance - flash knockdown in stanza
four as borderline as it gets - second “knockdown” in final
stanza six also questionable variety.
Scoring fair enough Davis 60-52 on all
cards - but future is further down the pike than the ESPN
touter shouters have it.
Then we get a scheduled middleweight four
round filler with another local “prospect” age 21 Fernando
Guerrero (4-0, 4 KO) in with selected pigeon, age 30 and in
his sixth kept appointment Valentino Jalomo of 2-3, 1 KO
infamy.
This mismatch aborted at 1:18 mark of
stanza four - two standing eights had (thought they no longer
existed) to hapless Jalomo before hack referee Brian Stutts
finally sees the proverbial light in last stanza.
………………………………..................................................………………………
Finally, the feature flyweight bout of the evening (or was it
morning) with Whitfield claiming majority decision - 117-111,
116-112, 114-114 over a game and in my opinion solid club
fight credentialed Manuel Vargas.
My unofficial had it Vargas 115-113 in points and 7-5 under
round by round method - the age 27 Mexican displayed good
mechanics and was the more aggressive in style.
Whitfield has quickness and good size, but
unfinished overall entity to now be considered ready for the
(WBC) Naito; (WBA) Sakata; (IBF) Donaire; (WBO) Narvaez elite
at 112.
Rest of story:
-
Tessitora -Atlas talk too much - the
“amateur pedigree” edge an insult to serious fight followers.
The Atlas 'keys to victory' have gone stale. The emphasis
should be limited to individual pros and cons.
-
Referee report: Main event referee Jim Korb
clearly head and shoulders above prelim hack Brian Stutts.
Korb very questionable standing eight counts in six round
prelim, and then two more in fill in four rounder before
finally stopping one sided affair in final candle. This guy
needs a pencil and scoring pad in swap from referee to
ringside judge. Could disable himself darting about the ring
as he does.
