I’ve heard the song before -
played by print and electronic media alike - mostly after a
favorite is beaten by betting underdog - a given when the
celebrated loser carried the name Patterson in that infamous
first Ingo disaster, up and down like an elevator to the tune
of seven trips to the canvas in round three - toss in the
Tyson Tokyo mishap with Buster Douglas and we’d hear it again
- the “upset” shout.
The more creative announcers
and scribblers of the day built on it by describing it all as
a “shocking upset.”
Which brings us to last
noche and the ESPN2 WNF main event beamed from The Roxy
theater at Beantown, USA - the focus on undefeated IBF #2
ranking s/bantamweight Mike “Machine” Oliver, who was paired
with age 34 veteran Reynaldo Lopez of 28-5-2, 19 KO's
mediocrity.
What we got prior to the
opening bell was how prime time Oliver, was denied a title
shot with IBF titleholder Steve Molitor after victory in
eliminator bout - along with background clips seeing Oliver
with both hands traveling faster than the proverbial bullet.
Then the opening bell with
Oliver and Lopez working from the southpaw side - a spirited
duel with both mirroring the other in style - edge to Oliver.
Lopez gets the vote here in
a close round two - but stanza three would tell the rest of
the story - just prior to the halfway mark, it’s a Lopez
looping left hand bomb flush on the target - and Oliver down
and clearly on queer street.
Referee in charge, house
hack Dick Flaherty caught flatfooted as Oliver when beginning
the superfluous count - the 9-10 seconds interval went more
like nine, er, er, er, and he’s up. Was only until Flaherty
gives it the, “walk to me” stupidity, that he finally sees
this one a lost cause for the hometown favorite.
Time of stoppage 1:22 of
round three.
Closing comments: While this
one saw most fans and media expecting a Oliver win, the
intangibles were somehow lost in the equation: yes, Oliver
undefeated and on video clips looking promising prospect.
Still, not a proverbial “name” among the victims -
translation, going in not as yet tested.
Reynaldo Lopez a whole
different entity - while two recent priors were decision loss
to Cristian Mijares in 2006, and when moving up two weight
classes, a stoppage in 2007 by Daniel Ponce de Leon. Entering
this abbreviated win over Oliver the biggest obstacle would be
the age factor.
On that note, the
transplanted Colombian has passed with flying colors - and
Oliver, at age 28, and good tools coupled with quickness, the
future is still out there if handled with TLC.
Post Scripts:
-
Reynaldo Lopez
(29-5-2, 20 KO's) ~ Young body at age 34 - skilled veteran and
working from port side a big edge. The mega left hand that
dropped the curtain was looping power punch that found the
target. Not a left hook as described by the talking head
Tessitore. Regardless, a perfect finisher by whatever the
name. Hopefully, the brain trust will select futures with
care. Reynaldo deserves nothing less.
-
Mike “Machine’
Oliver (21-1, 7 KO's) ~ the IBF #2 rating no longer reality.
Could be blessing in disguise. Under the yesterday system of
uno sanctioning standings, young Oliver would have
realistically been among the bottom top ten. Still,
could capture a bauble under the today multi-title
arrangement. The top names today at 122 read Israel Vazquez,
Celestino Caballero, Steve Molitor, Daniel Ponce de Leon - not
to mention a Rafael Marquez lurking in the wings.
………………………………................................................................................................
Tepid
co-feature saw welters Antoine “Truth” Smith going to 10-1-1,
6 KO’s after round three TKO over hapless Aaron Torres who
dropped to 16-7, 6 KO’s. Torres arrived on two bout winning
streak that followed five consecutive losses.
Torres down in
stanza two courtesy big left hook - with message delivered, it
was no surprise seeing him take the full count in round three
on one knee.
A fill-in four
rounder went the distance with local Sean Eklund going to
6-2-1 KO and victim Jose Velazquez still winless after three
losing kept assignments. Connection here is Eklund a nephew of
retired popular New England welter Mickey Ward of Arturo Gatti
trilogy fame.
